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Orchidaceae
Lady Orchid
Orchis purpurea
Elegance and femininity.
- Family
- Orchidaceae
- Genus
- Orchis
- Native to
- Europe, Western Asia, North Africa
- Bloom season
- Late Spring
- Type
- terrestrial orchid
- Height
- 1-2 ft
- Sunlight
- part shade
- Soil
- alkaline, calcareous, well-drained
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- 5-8
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- Each flower resembles a tiny lady in a bonnet and full skirt, with the dark hood forming the bonnet and the spotted lip forming the dress.
- Like all European orchids, it depends on specific soil fungi for germination, and its seeds are among the tiniest in the plant kingdom.
- A single flower spike can carry up to 50 individual flowers and the plant can live for decades if its habitat remains undisturbed.
- It is one of the tallest and most robust native orchids in Europe, sometimes exceeding 2 feet in height.
- The plant was once so common in English woodlands that it inspired the character of 'Lady Orchid' in folklore, but habitat loss has made it rare in many areas.
Color meanings
0
refined beauty
1
grace