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Key characteristics

Family: Plantaginaceae
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Width: 1 to 2 feet
Flower color: Deep pink
Foliage color: Emerges bronze, matures to deep green
Bloom time: Late summer to early fall
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Prefers moist to wet soils; tolerates average moisture once established
Maintenance: Low; deadhead spent flowers to encourage prolonged blooming
Growing zone: USDA zones 3 to 8
Wildlife: Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds; deer resistant

Perennials

Chelone lyonii 'Hot Lips'

Hot Lips Turtlehead

Chelone lyonii 'Hot Lips' is a perennial native to the southeastern United States, particularly found in moist woodlands and along stream banks. This cultivar is notable for its deep pink, hooded flowers that resemble a turtle's head, blooming from late summer into early fall. The blossoms are arranged in dense spikes atop sturdy, reddish stems, providing a vibrant display during a time when many other perennials have finished flowering.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Prefers moist to wet soils; tolerates average moisture once established

Bloom time

Late summer to early fall

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Cottage Gardens
Pollinator Gardens
Hummingbird Gardens
Rain Gardens

Companion plants

Lungworts · Daylilies · Japanese anemones · Bleeding hearts · Catmint · Heucheras

Design tip

Late flowers extend the season, so set it behind or beside plants that finish in midsummer. Because it is easy about light, use it to carry a planting from a sunny end of the bed into the shadier side.