Not only is a season full of blooms beautiful and exciting, it’s great for supporting pollinators. It’s important to sustain these critters as long as possible with late-blooming perennials like Turtlehead (Chelone). This New England native bears hooded flowers on tall stems in late summer. The appearance of these blooms gives the plant its name since they resemble the heads of turtles. The flowers will attract birds and butterflies like the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly for which it is the host plant. Keep in mind that they thrive in part shade in moist, woodland conditions. Our favorites are the White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) and ‘Hot Lips’ pink Turtlehead (Chelone lyonii).