A mature Turtlehead (Chelone lyonii) growing in a residential garden bed

In the landscape

Border · Mass planting · Naturalized · Pond · Woodland · Butterfly · Native · Pollinator

Data sources

Missouri Botanical Garden, NC State Extension

Turtlehead

Chelone lyonii · Perennial

Turtlehead is a moderate-growing perennial, hardy in USDA zones 3-8, that matures to about 2–4 ft × 1.5–2.5 ft. It does best in full sun and part shade with high water needs in moist and occasionally-wet soil. Expect yellow, pink and purple blooms in summer and fall. It attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds and stands up well to deer and wet soil.

USDA zones: 3-8
Sun: Full sun, Part shade
Water: High
Mature size: 2–4 ft × 1.5–2.5 ft
Growth rate: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Soil: Moist, Occasionally-wet
Bloom color: Yellow, Pink, Purple
Bloom season: Summer, Fall
Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Pollinators
Tough against: Deer, Wet soil
Native to: Southeastern United States

Will it survive your winters?

We score Turtlehead’s freeze-trouble range against the real coldest nights your area has recorded.

Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.

More plants for your zone: Zone 3 · Zone 4 · Zone 5 · Zone 6 · Zone 7 · Zone 8