Chelone lyonii aka Pink Turtlehead

Chelone lyonii is a perennial known as pink turtlehead. Other names include Appalachian turtlehead and Lyon's turtlehead. It belongs to the Plantaginaceae family. The species comes from the southeastern United States. It grows in wet woods and beside Appalachian streams. Its range reaches from Virginia south to South Carolina. It extends west to Tennessee, northern Mississippi, and northern Alabama. Garden escapes have established in New England and New York.

Plants form upright clumps and spread slowly through rhizomes. Garden height is 2–4 feet (0.61–1.22 metres). Chicago Botanic Garden gives a shorter range of 2–3 feet (0.61–0.91 metres). Clumps reach 1.5–2.5 feet (0.46–0.76 metres) across. The smooth stems are light green. Paired leaves have an egg shape and sharp teeth. Each leaf has a rounded base and pointed tip. The glossy upper face is medium to dark green. The lower face is a paler green. Leaves reach 3–7 inches long and about 2 inches wide. The plant loses its leaves each year.

Pink to rose-purple flowers gather in dense terminal racemes. Each tubular flower has two lips and a hooded top. Yellow hairs line the lower lip. The blooms resemble small snapdragons and reach about an inch long. Most sources place flowering from July through September. Chicago Botanic Garden also records bloom into October. Oval seed capsules appear in fall and reach half an inch. They change from green to brown as seeds mature. The capsules then split and release their seeds. Flowers draw bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; Chicago also reports bird interest.

Grow this plant in rich soil with ample organic matter. It needs moist to wet ground and tolerates clay or loam. It grows in full sun or partial shade. Partial shade suits cool summers, with shelter from hot afternoon sun. It also tolerates nearly full shade, but stems may need support. Pinching stem tips in spring can keep plants shorter. Composted leaf mulch helps in sunny sites. Sources give USDA zones 3–8, though Chicago lists 3–7.

Pink turtlehead suits woodland gardens, rain gardens, and pond edges. Use it in moist borders or grouped plantings. Its flowers also work well for cutting. Deer tend to leave it alone. Serious pest and disease problems are uncommon. Powdery mildew can develop in dry soil or poorly aired sites. The plant can seed itself where soil stays moist. Missouri Botanical Garden describes its slow spread as non-invasive. Division, cuttings, and seed all offer ways to raise plants.