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Hot Lips Turtlehead

Category:

Lush deep-green, shiny leaves topped with hot rosey-pink flowers which are shaped like little turtle heads; tolerant to moisture, this spreading plant is fantastic for stream edges and in bog gardens

Characteristics

Average Landscape Height:
3 feet
Average Landscape Width:
3 feet
Growth Rate:
medium
Genus:
Chelone
Species:
lyonii
Cultivar:
Hot Lips
Flower Color:
hot pink
Flower Period:
from late summer to mid fall
Summer Foliage Color:
dark green
Minimum Light:
partial shade
Maximum Light:
full sun
Minimum Moisture:
moist
Maximum Moisture:
wet
Plant Form:
upright spreading
Canopy:
closed
Pruning:
spring cleanup
Pollution Tolerance:
medium
Other Species Names:
Lyon's Turtlehead, Shellflower
Branching:
herbaceous
Density:
dense
Flower Form:
hooded

Ornamental Features

Hot Lips Turtlehead has masses of beautiful hot pink hooded flowers at the ends of the stems from late summer to mid fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its glossy pointy leaves remain dark green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Hot Lips Turtlehead is a dense herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

Planting & Growing

Hot Lips Turtlehead will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 12 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in moist to wet soil, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone over the growing season to conserve soil moisture. This is a selection of a native North American species. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

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