Chelone glabra

RHS Plant Profile

balmony

RHS

Other common names

rheumatism wort, salt rheumweed, shell flower, snakehead, turtle bloom, turtlehead

Synonyms

Chelone glabra subsp. linifolia, Chelone glabra var. linifolia, Chelone glabra white-flowered, Chelone obliqua var. alba

Herbaceous Perennial

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A moisture-loving plant of upright growth to 90cm tall, with lance-shaped leaves to 20cm long, and white or pink-tinged flowers 2.5cm long in late summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Poorly–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or East–facing or North–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Plantaginaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Chelone are herbaceous perennials with undivided, paired leaves and short terminal spikes of showy, 2-lipped, tubular flowers opening from late summer to early autumn
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: USA

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist to wet soil in part-shade to shade. More sun can be tolerated if the soil is wetter

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by division in spring. Stem-tip cuttings can be taken in spring (see softwood cuttings)

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required, other than cutting back at the end of the season

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Powdery mildews, rust diseases and a fungal leaf spot are sometimes problems