Chelone obliqua

Although rare in North Carolina, Pink Turtlehead can be found in moist woods, swampy areas, floodplains, alluvial forests, and stream margins. Pink to red flowers mimicking the heads of open-mouthed turtles make a display in late summer to fall. If you look closely, each flower has a pale-yellow beard in the lower lip. Being protandrous, male flower structures mature before female structures. Pollinators visit blooms to collect pollen first, then again later to drink the nectar, which can cause Turtlehead species to hybridize. Hummingbirds are attracted to the tubular flowers. This plant has an erect habit and can form clumps. Pink Turtlehead is happiest when growing in spots with high organic matter content. Plants spread by rhizomes and will self-seed in moist soils. Although it is a wetland plant, it can withstand brief periods of dry soil once it’s established. It can grow in a variety of light conditions from full sun to shade given other needs are met. Although considered deer and rabbit resistant, protecting small plantings is a good idea as they grow in. Pink Turtlehead was previously classified in Scrophulariaceae (the Figwort Family) but was recently reclassified as part of Plantaginaceae (the Plantain Family).