{"product_id":"tiny-tortuga-turtlehead","title":"Tiny Tortuga Turtlehead","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Compact Native With Whimsical Turtle-Shaped Fall Blooms\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTiny Tortuga Turtlehead (\u003cem\u003eChelone\u003c\/em\u003e 'Tiny Tortuga') is a charming, compact selection of our native turtlehead, named for its rosy-pink flowers that really do look like little turtle heads. Glossy dark green foliage forms a tidy mound topped with the unusual blooms in late summer and fall — a valuable late-season nectar source for bees. Native to wet meadows, it thrives in the moist soil of rain gardens and pond edges. Deer-resistant and reliably hardy for gardens in Woodbury, Maple Grove, and Shoreview.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTiny Tortuga Turtlehead Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mce-item-table\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eChelone 'Tiny Tortuga'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e14–18 in. tall, 14–18 in. wide\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness Zone\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–9 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a — fully hardy)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLight\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun to part shade\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Time\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLate summer into fall\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFlower Color\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRosy-pink turtle-shaped flowers\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMoist to wet, rich soil; excellent for rain gardens and clay\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -30°F once established\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRarely browsed by deer or rabbits\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNative Status\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCompact selection of native turtlehead\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eLandscape Uses in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRain gardens and wet spots:\u003c\/strong\u003e Native to wet meadows, it thrives where soil stays moist — rain gardens, pond edges, and low spots. Space 14–18 inches apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLate-season pollinator gardens:\u003c\/strong\u003e The fall flowers are an important late nectar source for bumblebees. Pair with Joe Pye weed, ferns, and astilbe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in spring (late April–May) or early fall (late August–mid September) into moist, rich soil. Keep consistently moist through establishment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Tiny Tortuga Turtlehead\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDig a hole twice the root ball width at the same depth, mixing in compost. Set the crown level, backfill, water well, and mulch 2–3 inches deep. Space 14–18 inches apart in a spot that stays moist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Tiny Tortuga Turtlehead\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFirst year:\u003c\/strong\u003e Keep the soil consistently moist — water every 1–3 days in dry weather. It dislikes drying out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAfter year one:\u003c\/strong\u003e Maintain steady moisture; in a naturally wet or rain-garden site, rainfall may suffice. It tolerates full sun only with reliably moist soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Why is it called turtlehead?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEach flower is shaped like a little turtle's head with its mouth open — a whimsical, distinctive bloom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Is it native?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes — it's a compact selection of native turtlehead, a North American wet-meadow wildflower valued by late-season bees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Does it need wet soil?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt loves consistent moisture and excels in rain gardens, but tolerates average garden soil with regular watering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Will it survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEasily — hardy to zone 3, returning each spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHot Lips Turtlehead (Chelone):\u003c\/strong\u003e A taller pink turtlehead for the back of a moist border.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJoe Pye Weed (Eutrochium):\u003c\/strong\u003e A native pollinator partner for rain gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina):\u003c\/strong\u003e A native fern for moist, part-shade beds.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#1 Gallon","offer_id":54315441062193,"sku":null,"price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/tiny-tortuga-turtlehead.jpg?v=1779747491","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/tiny-tortuga-turtlehead","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}