Description
Dactylorhiza – Marsh Orchid – Spotted Orchid –
There are about 30 species of tuberous, deciduous, terrestrial orchids, in this genus. They occur in meadows, bogs, heath land, or marshy stream sides, in Europe, Northern Africa, Western and Northern Asia and North America. They have finger-like, flattened tubers and linear to lance shaped, fleshy, usually mid green, sometimes spotted leaves, 4-8″ long. It bears purple, lilac-purple, red, pink, or white flowers with darker spots, with green, sometimes purplish bracts, are carried in dense, upright, terminal racemes, mostly 2-6″ long. Grow in a rock garden or woodland garden, or in a meadow planting.
Grow this fully frost hardy orchid in moist but well drained, humus rich, leafy soil in partial shade. Keep wet during warm weather. Divide in early spring. (see chart below)
