NAME: Chelone obliqua AKA: Rose turtlehead TYPE: Herbaceous perennial FAMILY: Scrophulariaceae, or figwort family; relatives include foxgloves, mazu, penstemon, torenia. VITAL STATS: Two-foot-tall plant with somewhat rounded stems and dark green, toothed leaves; clusters of 3/-inch-long dark pink or purplish pink flowers bloom near the tips of sturdy stalks that stand tall in all kinds of weather. NATIVE LAND: Eastern United States BLOSSOM TIME: August to mid-autumn BEST FEATURES: Two-lipped blooms with sparse yellow beards really do resemble turtles’ heads, especially when the tubular flowers pop out of their chartreuse buds in late summer. LIKES: Moist, fertile soil; sun or partial shade. SWORN ENEMIES: Slugs have been known to take a nibble. PLANT PARTNERS: A showy addition to the late-summer border with asters and Autumn Joy sedum TLC: Mulch in midspring with compost or rotted manure; divide in spring for more plants or take tip cuttings in early summer. HARDINESS ZONE: 3 to 9