Toxic Plant Known to be toxic - Toxic if ingested (can cause mild GI upset).
Image of Chelone glabra
image of Flowering plant
Chelone glabra
White turtlehead
Galane glabre

Obsolete Names

  • snakehead
No seeds available for this plant.

We are not accepting seeds for this plant at the moment.

Bloom colour: White Bloom period: August - October
Max Height: 5.0 feet
Max Width: 3.0 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light condition:
Full sun More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Moisture wet Tolerates wet soil condition
Lifespan : Perennial
Gardener Experience:
beginner friendly Suitable for beginner gardeners
does not spread Does not spread uncontrollably
Landscape uses:
rain garden Suitable for rain gardens
shoreline_rehab Suitable for shoreline rehabilitation
school garden Suitable for school gardens
foot traffic tolerance light Tolerates light foot traffic
Ecological Benefits: No ecological benefits information available.
Tolerates:
Deer Resistant Deer resistant
rabbit resistant Rabbit resistant
limestone Tolerant Tolerates limestone conditions
juglone Tolerant Tolerates juglone conditions
transplantation Tolerant Tolerates transplantation

Plant Distribution

Native to Ottawa region: Yes

Distribution according to VASCAN

Distribution: Chelone glabra
Ephemeral Native Introduced Excluded Extirpated Doubtful Absent
View taxonomy on Canadensys

View on iNaturalist

Thrives in Ecozones

  • Ecozone-Mixed Wood Plain
  • Ecozone-Boreal Shield
  • Atlantic_Maritime

Butterflies Supported by Chelone glabra

  • Euphydryas phaeton (Baltimore Checkerspot)

Bees Supported by Chelone glabra

No bee data available for this plant.

Complementary Plants Plants that grow in similar conditions, that bloom at the same time.

  • No complementary plants found.

Sowing Information

  • Sowing depth: Sow just below surface
  • Sow before January
  • Stratification duration: 90 days

Harvesting Information

  • Harvesting indicator: Pods are brown and slightly open
  • Harvesting mean: Cut stem (including pods), let air dry in paper bag, then shake seeds off after a few days
  • Seed Viability Test: No test needed before donating
  • Packaging Measure: 1 rounded 1/8 teaspoon
  • Seed Storage: Air Dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp, shaking seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
  • On Cultivar: Yes, do not donate unless you know source, and there are no known cultivars in your garden or at proximity