White Turtleheadnative
Chelone glabra · Plantaginaceae
Field guide
White turtlehead is a clump-forming native perennial of wet meadows, swamps and streambanks, 2–4 ft. tall, topped in late summer to fall by spikes of white, pink-tinged flowers shaped like a turtle's head. It is the primary larval host for the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly and a favorite of bumblebees, which pry into the hooded blooms for nectar. It prefers consistently moist to wet, rich soil and tolerates full sun to full shade. Leaf litter at its base shelters overwintering checkerspot caterpillars.
Gardener's notes
Plant turtlehead anywhere that stays moist—it's the make-or-break host plant for the gorgeous Baltimore checkerspot. Pinch it back in spring to keep your stand from flopping, and resist tidying the leaf litter at its feet in fall, where the caterpillars overwinter.
Ecology
- Pollinators: bumblebees (primary, pry into flowers), two-spotted longhorn bee, hummingbird
- Larval host for: Baltimore checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton) — PRIMARY, common buckeye
Care this season
- Pruning: pinch in spring to reduce flop
- Standing stems: leave them — insects overwinter inside.
- Diseases: powdery mildew if it dries out
- Toxicity: bitter glycosides (balmony tonic)
From this lawn's journal
- Jun 4 peak bloom — first turtlehead bud
Meaning
Chelone = Greek for tortoise (flower shape); folk names balmony, bitter herb, snakehead; used as a bitter tonic. Whimsical turtle-head blooms and a starring conservation role.
Sources
- Chelone glabra — Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Chelone glabra — Native Plant Trust
- Chelone glabra — Prairie Moon Nursery
Notes: Highest conservation value of the inventory as the Baltimore checkerspot's primary larval host.