Turtleheads are wetland plants that are pollinated by bumblebees. White Turtlehead is a host plant for the beautiful Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly. They were the the genus (Chelone) that was the subject of Allan’s dissertation. You should read it, it’s a page turner! The seeds of White Turtlehead need several months of cold moist stratification. You can stratify them in a damp paper towel sealed in a zip-lock bag. Seeds should be planted just into the surface & kept moist. They need sunlight to germinate. Fill pots with a potting soil. I generally plant 3-5 seeds per pot, & barely cover. Water gently to prevent changing the seed depth. Kept at 65oF., germination usually occurs within 3-5 weeks. This wetland plant strongly prefers moist soils in full to mostly sun. Alternatively, you can direct sow the seed in the fall. Just prepare the area by getting bare soil via raking or other means. Scatter the seed, & walk all over it to ensure good contact. If the area is appropriate for this plant, it will germinate in the summer. Each packet will have 20 seeds. White Turtlehead | Chelone Glabra Seeds
