Red Turtlehead
Chelone obliqua
Last reviewed: August 2026
Chelone obliqua, or red turtlehead, blooms from August into October with hooded pink flowers that draw bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. It does best in part shade with consistently moist soil.
Toxicity unknown
Red Turtlehead (Chelone obliqua) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
24"–36" H × 18"–24" W
Bloom
Aug, Sep, Oct
Native to
AL, GA, KY, MD and 5 more states
Pollinators
bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
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Red turtlehead is a native perennial that produces distinctive pink to red snapdragon-like flowers from late summer through fall. This moisture-loving plant forms neat clumps with dark green foliage and thrives in partial shade conditions.
Growing Red Turtlehead
Grow Red Turtlehead in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 24 to 36 inches tall and spread 18 to 24 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Red Turtlehead is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: moderate. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, mid zone.
- Dies back completely in winter
- May need supplemental water in dry periods
Wildlife value
Host plant for Baltimore checkerspot butterfly.
The tubular flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds during the late-season bloom period. This plant serves as a host for Baltimore checkerspot butterfly caterpillars.
Common questions
- When does red turtlehead bloom?
- Chelone obliqua produces its hooded pink flower spikes from August through October, making it a late-season bloomer in the perennial border.
- What kind of light and water does red turtlehead need?
- Red turtlehead grows best in part shade to part sun and prefers medium to consistently moist soil. It tolerates wetter sites such as stream banks and does not do well if it dries out for long periods.
- What pollinators does red turtlehead attract?
- Bees, including bumblebees strong enough to force open the snapdragon-like blooms, along with butterflies and hummingbirds, regularly visit the flowers of Chelone obliqua.
- Is red turtlehead a good choice for a rain garden or woodland edge?
- Yes. Its tolerance for medium to moist soil and part shade makes it well suited to rain gardens, pond margins, and the damp edges of woodland plantings.
- Is Red Turtlehead HOA-friendly?
- Red Turtlehead is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Red Turtlehead? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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