Hot Lips Turtlehead is a stiffly erect native herbaceous perennial with red stems and coarsely toothed lace-shaped foliage that emerges bronze and matures to dark green. The hooded rose pink two lipped flowers bloom on tight spike-like terminals from late summer into fall. Flowers best in part shade and moist to wet rich well-drained soils. Tolerates drought and heavy shade.
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 Type:  | 
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 Origins:  | 
 Southern Appalachian Mountains  | 
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 Height:  | 
 2' - 4'  | 
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 Spread:  | 
 1.5’ - 2.5'  | 
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 Spacing:  | 
 2'  | 
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 USDA Hardiness Zone:  | 
 3 - 8  | 
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 Culture:  | 
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 Bloom Color:  | 
 Pink  | 
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 Season of Interest:  | 
MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low Maintenance.  Some susceptibility to mildew if soils too dry or lack air circulation.  May need staking if grown in too deep of shade.
LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Naturalized Areas, Wildlife Garden, Foundation Plantings, and Containers.
COMPANION PLANTS: Cardinal Flower, Marsh Marigold, Blue Flag
IMAGES: Photoset by Jim, the Photographer, Chelone Hot Lips (Chelone lyonii), (2) Backyard Flower - Chelone "Hot Lips" Turtlehead (Chelone lyonii), (2) Photo by F. D. Richards, Chelone lyonii 'Hot Lips', 2017
*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.