Turtlehead

About this plant

Add a whimsical touch to your garden with Chelone lyonii 'Tiny Tortuga', a remarkable native perennial celebrated for its distinctive snapdragon-like flowers. These charming blooms, resembling a turtle's head, emerge in shades of rosy-pink, bright pink, or purple, providing a welcome burst of color when many other garden plants are fading. Perfect for adding late-season interest to borders, cottage gardens, or naturalized areas, its upright, bushy habit makes it an excellent choice for a variety of landscape designs. 'Tiny Tortuga' is a more compact selection of the native Turtlehead, making it ideal for smaller gardens or front-of-the-border placement. It thrives in moist, rich soils and is particularly effective around ponds, streams, or in rain gardens, where it can capitalize on consistent moisture. Its sturdy stems ensure a neat appearance throughout the growing season, eliminating the need for staking. Beyond its ornamental appeal, this cultivar is a magnet for pollinators, providing a crucial nectar source for bees and butterflies in the late summer and early fall. Its robust nature and charming blooms make it a resilient and captivating addition to any garden seeking a touch of unique beauty.

Installation timing

When we're in season, outside of the winter months, our goal is to get your plants installed within about two weeks. That window gives us enough time to secure your plants from our supplier and find a spot on the schedule. Throughout the process we stay in touch through notifications and your existing client portal on the main A Cut Above website, which is separate from this landscaping plants shop.

Care & maintenance

Prefers consistently moist, rich soil. Can tolerate full sun if soil remains adequately moist; otherwise, partial shade is ideal. Pinching back in early summer can encourage a bushier habit and more blooms. Divide clumps every 3-4 years to maintain vigor. Generally pest and disease resistant.

Watering suggestions

Proper watering is the single most important factor in your plant's survival after installation. Newly installed plants have a limited root system and rely on you for consistent moisture while they establish.

• First 2 weeks: Water deeply every day (or every other day in cooler, wet weather), soaking the root ball and surrounding soil.
• Weeks 3–12: Water deeply 2–3 times per week, adjusting for rain, heat, and soil drainage.
• After establishment: Water deeply about once a week during the growing season, and more often in extreme heat or drought.
• How to check: Stick a finger 2–3 inches into the soil near the roots — if it's dry, it's time to water. Deep, less-frequent watering encourages strong roots; shallow daily sprinkles do not.
• Avoid: Overwatering (soggy, waterlogged soil) is just as harmful as underwatering and can drown roots.

Watering needs vary by plant, season, soil, and exposure. Because proper watering is the customer's responsibility after installation, please make sure you understand and can follow these suggestions before ordering.

Good to know: plants and trees purchased from and installed by A Cut Above include a one-year limited warranty from the date of installation. Because plant survival depends heavily on proper watering and care after installation, losses caused by improper care, neglect, animal or chemical damage, or extreme weather are not covered, and we must be given the chance to inspect a struggling plant before it's removed or replaced. Coverage is one replacement per plant. Read our warranty info.