trefle.io · Taken Apr 16, 2018 by Laureline Petit-Bagnard (cc-by-sa)
Orchidaceae
Lady orchid
Orchis purpurea
Also known as Purple orchid, Military orchid, Orchis purpurea, Orchis purpurea f. vulgaris
Native Plants · Orchid · Terrestrial Orchid · Lady Orchid · Orchis · Wildflower · Chalk Grassland · European Orchid · Rare Plant · Pollinator · Specialist Plant
Lady orchid is a stunning terrestrial European orchid that produces tall spikes of deep purple and pink flowers in late spring, best grown in alkaline, well-drained grassland or chalk garden conditions. It has a mycorrhizal dependency making it extremely difficult to cultivate outside its native habitat, and it resents disturbance or transplanting. This plant is best appreciated in specialist wildflower or chalk downland restorations rather than conventional home gardens.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 4 hours
- Watering
- Water moderately; ensure excellent drainage and never allow roots to sit in standing water · Every 7-10 days during growing season
- Maintenance
- High
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 6–7.5
- Temperature
- -20°F to 85°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 5a-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 8 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Albania, Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Corse, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Krym, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Poland, Romania
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies, Moths
Sources: trefle
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