It died. Probably due to too high a pH. Since I wouldn't call it a particularly obscure plant, either it has already proven itself a dud locally, or the local nurseries are extremely, painfully, soon to be out of business, conservative.

Thanks. I think that i've decided that the soil conditions are too dry for the plant where i was planning on putting it.

I love Chelone (turtlehead)!

I have "Hot Lips", and it thrives here. It can take sun or part-shade, but it will not tolerate dry soil. If happy, it will expand nicely. Foliage is top-notch all season.

A couple photos from last September:

{{gwi:195257}}

{{gwi:240698}}

I agree with mxk3. Turtleheads are great plants here - always upright, good dark green foliage, that can almost give a bit of a formal look to beds (their sturdy foliage contrasting well against fine, wispy, or cottagy foliage and flowers). They do fine on moisture retentive clay soils, usually without any additional watering, and tolerate full sun (in z5) to part shade. (Mine are getting more and more shade as the garden ages). Spread well but only along the edges of the clump - no runners, nothing popping up somewhere 10 feet away. No cutting back, pinching, shearing, or deadheading. Do not need fertilizer. About as low-care as you can get with unique flowers appearing near summer's end.

Sorry Gardenlover, I am unfamiliar with the variety you mentioned in your original posting. Mine are about 10 years old and were labelled simply Chelone lyonii, pink turtlehead.

Good morning O'gardenlover - Like mxk3 & Leslie, I dearly love my old huge clumps of Chelone ... suggested this, easy-care & attractive mass in your other post ... as you can see from mxk3's photos.

I planed 2 qt-size plants intended as a underplant-fillers between 2 Quacking Aspen trees, some 20 years ago ... what's more the plants were mislabeled as 'Joe Pye' ... didn't know any better then! LOL Both trees are now gone (1 by a tornado, yrs ago & the other we had to take down last yr - lived his life ... my Chelones are still going strong under our hot, Iowa sun w/o even flinching!!! Â;) Beautiful bees love going in & out of the "hot lips" as mxk3 calls the blossoms!!! LOL

Sorry 'didn't know there are other varieties ... luv them just the purp/pink, they are & the dark green, serrated foliage ... if you are anywhere close by, I'll welcome you to come & dig up some shoots, as I really have to thin them! Seriously! Â;)

Agree with everyone above - Chelone has been a GREAT plant for me here in
NJ (all of them in partial shade). . .saw one in full bloom at a nursery about ten years ago, bought it on impulse, and tucked it into my shade garden for Fall
color. . .wonder of wonders, it thrived, despite my completely forgetting about it in the Spring!

Although I already have one white variety in my collection, thanks for tipping
me off to 'Black Ace', which sounds really interesting - and HUGE! Here's the
info I uncovered in my research (also available at Avant Gardens, for any of you Yankees reading this!)

Here is a link that might be useful: Plant Delights Nursery

Hi Carl - Wow stunning shiny, dark foliage!!! Thanks for the link! Â;)

Hello there!
Before you all open your vallets and start buying it from the fancy places and spend crazy money on shipping (been there, done that!), let me tell you something.
'Black Ace' is a cultivar of our native C. glabra or C. obliqua 'Alba' (both names a synonymous) with only difference from the species is that BA emerging with a very dark foliage which gradualy changes to medium green as summer progresses. It may stay very dark in a very shady locations, but then it will bloom very poorly. Another difference is that if species could grow to 4-4.5' and may not stand straight at this height, BA DEFINITELY would require a support unless you'll start pinching it in a mid season.
It has another special threat inherited from the species: succeptability to the powdery mildew.
So, if you are looking for the white chelone, my suggestion would be to look for the straight species from the local nurseries.

Carl, I'll bring you a piece of it in a fall.

Thank you George, for the enlightenment - altho I'm not really interested in yet, another 'WHITE', at this phase, of our garden season (I have all my beloved Hydrangeas all abloom!!!) ... while I had my fav nursery on the line, he had several C obliqua Albas & said, not hard to find at all.

Nice to see you here George!!! Â;) ... 'wonder if I'll see you sometime, in the Gingko threads?!

Just trying to save a fellow gardeners a buck :-)

Hey, George, welcome back!

See, the only reason I ever post on here is because I KNOW you'll read it
and offer to bring me a piece. . .we all think you're the Johnny Appleseed of perennials and shrubs ! Thanks. ..

Carl