Flowers
Common Name: pink turtlehead
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Plantaginaceae
Zone: 4 to 9
Height: 1.50 to 2.00 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 1.25 feet
Bloom Time: July to September
Bloom Description: Pink
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Rain Garden
Flower: Showy
Tolerate: Deer, Wet Soil
Culture
Best grown in moist, rich, humusy, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Best in cool summer climates in part shade areas. Tolerates close to full shade. Consider pinching back the stem ends in spring to reduce mature plant height, especially if growing plants in strongly shaded areas where they are more likely to need some support. In optimum environments, however, staking is usually not required. Appreciates a good, composted leaf mulch, particularly in full sun areas. Spreads slowly by rhizomes to form large clumps but is not invasive. Will self-seed in moist soils. Propagate by division, cuttings and seed.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Chelone is a small genus of herbaceous, rhizomatous perennials native to wetland habitats in North America. Upright stems hold oppositely arranged, serrated leaves. The inflorescences are spike-like cymes with tubular flowers in shades of white to pink to dark purple-red. The flowers are primarily pollinated by bumblebees.
Genus name comes from the Greek word chelone meaning tortoise in reference to the turtlehead shape of the flowers.
'Armtipp02' is a compact, upright selection of turtlehead that features dark green foliage with bronzy tones and deep pink blooms. Mature plants will reach around 2' tall with a 1.25' spread. The glossy, ovate leaves reach around 3.25" long and 2" wide and mature from bronzy green to black-green. The 1" long, deep pink blooms are held on 3.5" long terminal racemes from mid-summer into fall. Commonly sold at nurseries and garden centers under the name TINY TORTUGA. US patent number PP25350 applies to this cultivar.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Some susceptibility to mildew, particularly if soils are kept on the dry side and/or air circulation is poor. If grown in too much shade, plants may need some support.
Uses
Shade or woodland gardens. Native plant gardens. Bog gardens. Pond or water garden peripheries. Good border plant as long as soil moisture requirements can be met. Interesting cut flower.