Plant of the Week 12: White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)

            The Maryland State Butterfly is the Baltimore Checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton) - a beautiful butterfly with orange and black patterns. Unfortunately, populations have been declining in recent years and in Maryland it is listed as imperiled (S2). The primary reason for this is its main larval host, White Turtlehead, is becoming increasingly rare as its natural habitat is being degraded.

            In addition to being the primary larval host for the Baltimore Checkerspot, White Turtlehead also provides a late season nectar source to many pollinators and occasionally hummingbirds.

            White Turtlehead’s name comes from the shape of flowers, which look like a turtle poking its head out of its shell. The genus name is derived from the Greek word Chelone, which means “A tortoise”. Flowers are white and appear in late summer to early fall, from August through the beginning of October. Plants average between 2 and 5 feet tall and will only spread up to about 2 feet wide.

            The natural habitat of White Turtlehead is wet meadows, stream banks, and floodplains. However, it can tolerate average garden soil if there is adequate moisture. White Turtlehead is useful in raingardens or in native plant gardens looking for either late blooms or a vertical accent. Locally, look for White Turtlehead at Little Bennett Regional Park, Locust Grove Nature Center, Difficult Run Stream Valley Park, and Huntley Meadows.

Seeds of White Turtlehead on a leaf.