Chelone obliqua var alba seeds – (Turtlehead, Shellflower)

Description

Picture thanks to Jelitto seeds

This plant forms clumps of glossy dark green leaves, and in summer to autumn it produces attractive white flowers which are hooded, and look like turtle heads. It makes a very good cut flower, and flowers in the first year from seed.  The plant loves moist to damp soil, but is not too fussy and will tolerate soils which are drier.  It will grow to about 90 cm. It likes full sun, but will tolerate partial shade, and also frost.

Sowing advice

Sow in Spring or autumn.  Sow the seeds on the surface of moist seed raising mix in pots or trays. Don’t cover them as light aids germination. Keep them moist and at about 20 deg C. They should germinate in about 4 weeks. If they don’t then cover the pot  with plastic and refrigerate for about 4 weeks.