Plant of the Week: Turtlehead

Well, back again for another Plant of the Week - Turtlehead! 

Commonly known as White Turtlehead, scientific name Chelone glabra, is named for its distinctive flowers that resemble a turtle’s head.

Pollinating these flowers is a difficult task. Size and strength is needed to pry open the bloom and reach the nectar inside. So, who else but bumblebees? Bumblebees are able to use their muscles and squeeze into this plant species, leaving with some pollen to spread to the next one. White turtlehead is also an important host plant for the beautiful Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly.

If you choose to plant White Turtlehead, you should know that it is a wetland plant that strongly prefers wet to moist soils in full to mostly sun. 

This individual was spotted at a city rain garden off of Richard Davis Drive.

Written by Francisco Rodriguez