W. Atlee Burpee & Co. / 800-888-1447
Chelone lyonii ‘Hot Lips’by George Papadelis

Garden centers fill their benches in the fall with thousands of mums. But what else is blooming? With a little effort, dozens of great perennials that bloom during early fall can be found. Chelone, or turtlehead, is a North American native perennial whose peak flowering period lasts about four weeks from August to September.

Chelone has the common name turtlehead because its individual florets resemble the head of a turtle. The individual flowers are about 1 inch long and are borne on short, pointed spikes that rest above glossy green foliage. Plants grow 2 to 3 feet tall and about 1-1/2 to 2 feet wide. Turtlehead prefers moist, rich soil and partial sun but can tolerate full sun if provided adequate moisture. It grows in and close to woodlands all over the eastern half of the U.S. and Canada. Like many native plants, it is well adapted to our climate and soils and is also more insect- and disease-resistant. Turtlehead will last for many years with little or no care at all. When plants grow beyond their allocated space, they can be easily divided in spring.

K. Van Bourgondien & Sons / 800-622-9997
Chelone obliquaThree species of Chelone are readily available and each offers some traits that may be beneficial in your garden. Chelone glabra is often called white turtlehead (or swamp turtlehead) because its flowers are usually white tinged with a hint of pink. It blooms a bit earlier than the other two species, starting in late July and continuing through August. Of the three species, this one is the most sun-tolerant.

Chelone lyonii is the most popular turtlehead. It is usually pink, prefers partial sun and blooms about the same time as Chelone glabra. The variety ‘Hot Lips’ has rich pink flowers and reddish stems.

Chelone obliqua has flowers of the deepest pink that are sometimes even described as purple. It also comes in an all white form called Chelone obliqua ‘Alba.’ Chelone obliqua does offer one unique advantage over the other turtleheads: it is the latest blooming species. This one won’t start flowering until late August and continues for about four weeks into September. This later bloom time is especially valuable since the more popular summer bloomers like black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) and phlox are probably done.

So you might be thinking turtlehead would look great with some mums, right? Sure it would, but also consider some of the other late bloomers that would look beautiful next to the leaves and flowers of pink turtlehead. The blue or purple flowers of fall asters would make an excellent partner that grows from 1 to 3 feet tall. For a shorter blue bloomer, try the spreading plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) whose electric-blue flowers are complimented by beautiful reddish-bronze fall foliage. The later-blooming monkshood (Aconitum napellus) has dark blue flowers on 4-foot spikes that resemble delphiniums from a distance. Check out other late bloomers like Joe pye weed (Eupatorium), hardy hibiscus, anemones, ornamental grasses, and fall-blooming crocus, to name a few. Keep in mind that turtlehead does produce a column of green leaves that is very visible when the plant is in bloom so you may want to soften it with a shorter flower or some complimentary beautiful leaves.

The cooler fall temperatures give us the perfect opportunity to spruce up our flower beds and begin planning for next year’s garden. Plants are less prone to transplant shock and will require less watering if cultivated in the fall. Plant some spring-blooming bulbs, think about trying some pansies, and don’t forget those mums. With these and the myriad of fall bloomers like turtlehead, all of us should have a spectacular September garden.

George Papadelis is the owner of Telly’s Greenhouse in Troy, MI.

At a glance: Turtlehead

Botanical name: Chelone (keh-LOW-nee)

Plant type: Perennial

Plant size: 2-3 feet tall; 1-1/2-2 feet wide

Habit: Upright

Hardiness: Zone 3 (zone 5 for Chelone obliqua)

Flower color: Pink, white

Flower size: 1-inch long

Bloom period: August-September

Leaf color: Green, dark green

Leaf size: 2-8 inches long

Light: Partial shade to full sun

Soil: Rich, moist soil

Uses: Areas in the garden that are continually moist or wet; bog garden; stream or pond bank

Companion plants: Asters, Joe pye weed, hardy hibiscus, anemones, ornamental grasses, plumbago

Remarks: Native plant. Provide adequate moisture if positioned in full sun.

Jonathon Hofley / Michigan Gardener
‘Rostrahlbusch’ switch grass in the summer.by George Papadelis

Ornamental grasses are an enormous group of plants whose popularity has altered our perception of perennial gardening. Before ornamental grasses, perennial purists struggled to find plants that provided winter interest and yet died down to the ground like the rest of the garden. Some gardeners rebelled and began using smaller evergreen shrubs. Others found solace with upright sedums like Sedum ‘Autumn Joy.’ Now, we have ornamental grasses.

Besides providing winter interest, grasses have fall color, move beautifully in the wind, and most have flowers that last long into the winter. They are extremely diverse too. Some grow in sun, others in shade. They may be as little as 1 inch tall or towering to 20 feet. It is more and more difficult to find an American garden without an ornamental grass.

Jonathon Hofley / Michigan Gardener
‘Heavy Metal’One of the most valuable ornamental grasses is switch grass (Panicum virgatum). This North American native has many of the attributes that make ornamental grasses popular. All switch grasses are clumpers. In other words, none of them are runners, which can quickly outgrow their allotted space and become a nuisance. Clumps of switch grass expand so slowly that they may not require dividing for 10 years or longer. When your clump eventually does grow too wide for your garden, you’ll need to dig up the entire crown to divide it. I have often equated dividing ornamental grasses to dividing the trunk of a tree. It’s easier with a chain saw, but an axe or hacksaw will do the trick. Basketball-size clumps will make great specimens within a year. The only maintenance your switch grass will require is a trim to about 6 inches in late March or early April. This allows the new growth to begin unencumbered by last year’s old growth.

All switch grasses have gray-green to blue-green leaves that turn gold to orange-red in fall and then fade to a wintertime shade of tan. The fall flowers emerge pinkish, reddish, or silvery and mature to a grayish white or brown. They will tolerate almost any kind of soil from wet to dry and from sand to clay. They prefer full sun but will tolerate light shade. Height can range from 3 feet to as tall as 7 feet. Needless to say, switch grasses are very versatile plants.

My favorite switch grass is ‘Heavy Metal.’ I first saw this plant from a tour bus at Longwood Gardens in 1992. I could not believe how stiff and upright this tight clump grew. It has metallic gray-blue leaves on a 3- to 4-foot tall plant. The purple flower sprays that emerge in late summer are followed by its bright yellow fall color. It’s spectacular. This one looks great in rows to form a short hedge or alone among perennials in any border.

Jonathon Hofley / Michigan Gardener
‘Dallas Blues’The largest switch grass you will find is ‘Cloud Nine.’ It can grow from 5 to 7 feet tall and has a more vase-shaped habit. Its light blue leaves hold up great in strong winds. It produces yellowish flowers in late fall that blush to tan for a winter show. The larger size of this switch grass makes it ideal as a visual barrier or background plant.

Panicum ‘Prairie Skies’ is a more upright grower like ‘Heavy Metal,’ only larger, to 5 or 6 feet tall. This exceptional, strong grower will usually produce substantial plants faster than other varieties. The powdery-blue foliage yields soft blue-gray flowers in fall.

‘Shenandoah’ is a shorter variety, only growing to 3 feet tall. Its other distinction is its deep red leaf color that starts in June and intensifies as the season progresses. In late summer, red flowers emerge that mimic the red leaf color. 

‘Dallas Blues’ bears very wide leaf blades of powdery blue. These unusual leaves grow on a 6-foot tall plant that develops 2-foot long, football-shaped flower heads of purple-blue that turn to a rich orange-tan by fall. The huge flowers are the most wind responsive of any of the switch grasses; the slightest breeze will send your garden into a long mesmerizing dance.

If you are using your switch grass in a perennial border, there are many late-blooming perennials that make fine companions. The showy stonecrop sedums (Sedum spectabile) include several varieties like ‘Autumn Fire,’ ‘Neon,’ and ‘Pink Chablis.’ These offer some interesting flowers as well as foliage for the autumn garden. Russian sage (Perovskia) offers lavender flowers above silvery foliage that grows 3 to 4 feet tall. Fall-blooming asters and boltonia are available in several colors and provide masses of late season flowers. 

Hines Horticulture
‘Shenandoah’Fall is a wonderful season to garden. Plants can be transplanted or divided with less stress and with less water. This is a perfect time to reevaluate your gardens and determine what changes should be made. Also, imagine your garden at wintertime to see if your landscape lacks winter interest.

Switch grass is a versatile plant that provides year-round interest with minimal care. With the companions mentioned above, ornamental grasses can be used to ensure a stunning display that lasts well into winter. Get to know this valuable group of plants; every American garden should have some.

George Papadelis is the owner of Telly’s Greenhouse in Troy, MI.

At a glance: Switch grass

Botanical name: Panicum virgatum (PA-ni-kum vir-GAH-tum)

Plant type: Perennial ornamental grass

Plant size: 3-7 feet tall

Habit: Upright or vase-shaped

Hardiness: Zone 5

Flower color: Soft purple, yellowish, gray-blue, pinkish red

Flowers: Airy clusters

Bloom period: Fall

Leaf color: Various shades of blue-green or gray-green

Light: Full sun to light shade; flowering and fall color are best in full sun

Soil: Tolerant of most types; from dry to wet, sandy to clay

Uses: Perennial bed, mixed border, hedge, specimen plant

Companion plants: Tall sedums, Russian sage, boltonia,  asters, mums

Remarks: Great year-round interest; fantastic fall color, from yellows to orange-reds, changing to tan in winter; easy to grow