Turtlehead

Blossoms in late summer with hot pink blossoms against a deep green cluster of leaves. The foliage emerges with a bronze tint before turning lustrous deep, dark green. The exact cultivar is especially suited to moist sites and extends late-summer color into early fall. ## Cultivar and size The [Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder profile](https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=293430) identifies ‘Hot Lips’ as a herbaceous perennial, lists zones 3–8, a height of 2–4 feet and a spread of 1.5–2.5 feet, and describes the cultivar’s richer pink flowers and bronze-green to dark-green foliage. The existing meter values remain within those published ranges; the labels show the full sourced ranges. ## Siting and care Plant in full sun to part shade in moist, rich, humusy soil that stays medium to wet. It tolerates wet soil and suits rain gardens or naturalized areas. The profile reports rose-pink flowers from July through September and notes that butterflies visit the flowers. ## Maintenance In spring, pinch stem ends if you need to reduce mature height, particularly in shade where stems may need support. A composted leaf mulch is useful, especially in full sun. The plant spreads slowly by rhizomes and can self-seed in moist soil.