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Orchidaceae
Madeira Orchid
Dactylorhiza foliosa
Island uniqueness and botanical treasure.
- Family
- Orchidaceae
- Genus
- Dactylorhiza
- Native to
- Madeira (Portugal)
- Bloom season
- Spring, Early Summer
- Type
- tuberous perennial
- Height
- 30–70 cm
- Sunlight
- part shade
- Soil
- moist, humus-rich, well-drained
- Water
- medium
- Hardiness
- 7–9
- Lifespan
- perennial; long-lived
Did you know
- It is endemic to the island of Madeira, growing nowhere else in the wild on Earth.
- The dense flower spikes can contain over 100 individual orchid blooms packed tightly together.
- Unlike many orchids, it is surprisingly easy to grow in cool, damp garden conditions outside its native range.
- The genus name Dactylorhiza means 'finger root', describing the hand-shaped tubers underground.
- It thrives in the laurel forests of Madeira, a UNESCO World Heritage ecosystem dating back millions of years.
Color meanings
Purple
rare distinction
Magenta
island passion