Overview

Chelone obliqua 'Alba' is a plant with a bushy habit in the genus Chelone, part of the Plantaginaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Chelone obliqua 'Alba' grows best in full sun and partial shade, and tolerates clay and loam soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H5. Suggested uses include cottage and informal garden and flower borders and beds.

About

Chelone obliqua 'Alba' is a perennial in the Plantaginaceae with a rounded, multi-stemmed habit and deciduous foliage. It bears two-lipped, tubular flowers that form a characteristic 'turtlehead' shape and flowers in the UK from August to September. The plant prefers moist soils and a sheltered position in full sun or partial shade and is rated H5 (hardy).

About the genus

Chelone is a genus of four species of perennial herbaceous plants native to eastern North America. They all have similarly shaped flowers, which vary in color from white to red, purple or pink. Chelone cuthbertii, C.

Wikipedia contributors, "Chelone (plant)", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Chelone (plant)

In the garden

Chelone obliqua 'Alba' is a perennial member of the Plantaginaceae with a multi-stemmed, rounded form and deciduous leaves. Its distinctive two-lipped, tubular blooms appear late in the season, producing their main display in the UK from August to September. Position the plant in full sun or partial shade on clay or loam soils; it tolerates a wide soil pH (acid to alkaline) and copes with moist but well-drained ground as well as heavier, poorly drained sites. Give it a sheltered aspect — north, east, south or west exposures are all acceptable provided sudden winter winds are reduced. The H5 hardiness rating indicates it is reliably hardy in most UK gardens. Use Chelone obliqua 'Alba' towards the back of mixed flower borders or in informal and cottage-style beds where its late-summer flowering helps bridge the season. Its upright habit and summer timing make it useful for filling gaps as other perennials fade and for providing structure in late-season plantings.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Chelone

Sunlight

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil type

Clay, Loam

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained, Poorly-drained

Aspect

South-facing, West-facing, North-facing, East-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H5

Plant details

Chelone obliqua 'Alba' size, habit and characteristics

Habit

Bushy

Foliage

Deciduous

Suggested uses

Cottage and informal garden, Flower borders and beds

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Chelone obliqua 'Alba'

Propagation

Seed sown in containers in a cold frame in early spring, Division in spring, Root soft-tip cuttings in late spring or early summer

Pest resistance

Susceptible to slugs and snails

Disease resistance

Generally disease-free

Frequently asked questions