Chelone obliqua, or turtlehead, is a perennial flowering plant. This uncommon wildflower is endemic to the United States, where it is found in the Midwestern and southeastern states. When blooming, the flower is said to resemble the head of a turtle.

C. obliqua blooms later than some herbaceous perennials, in mid to late summer. The flowers are tubular 2-lipped blooms, with a small yellow beard inside each lower lip. The flowers are cross pollinated by bees and attractive to butterflies.

Chelone obliqua is native to various states in the eastern and central parts of the country, including: Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

The plant has become a rare wildflower and is threatened and endangered in some states, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. The variety obliqua is endangered in Kentucky and threatened in Maryland, while the speciosa variety is endangered in Arkansas and of special concern in Kentucky.

Type: Hardy perennial

Height: 2-3' (61 to 91 cm)

Location: Sun

Hardiness zones: 5-8

Seeds per packet: 15