Red Turtlehead

(Chelone obliqua)

Red Turtlehead (Chelone obliqua L.)

Identification: Flowers large, ovate, pink to red-pink. Upper 2 petals lobes fused into a large convex hood-like structure. Lower 3 petal lobes forming a 3 lobed lower banner. Flowers clustered in a terminal spike. Leaves large, ovate-elongate, with heavily toothed outer margins. Plant 1 to 2.5 feet in height.

Distribution: Minnesota in the west to Maryland in the east, southward to Florida and Arkansas.

Habitat: Red Turtlehead is found in wet thickets and along streams and rivers.

Flowering period: August to October.

Similar Species: Lyon's Turtlehead (Chelone lyoni) (not treated here) is a closely related species with roughly the same distribution. However, Lyon's Turtlehead has wider leaves. Turtlehead has white flowers, although the flowers may be slightly tinged with pink.