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Orchidaceae
Marsh Orchid
Dactylorhiza majalis
Wild elegance.
- Family
- Orchidaceae
- Genus
- Dactylorhiza
- Native to
- Europe, Western Asia
- Bloom season
- Spring, Summer
- Type
- herbaceous
- Height
- 8-24 in
- Sunlight
- full sun to partial shade
- Soil
- wet, calcareous, nutrient-rich
- Water
- high
- Hardiness
- 4-8
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- The genus name Dactylorhiza means 'finger root' in Greek, describing the hand-shaped tubers.
- Marsh orchids hybridize so readily with related species that even expert botanists struggle to identify them to species level.
- Each flower spike can contain 25 to 50 individual flowers densely packed along the stem.
- The spotted leaves are thought to help camouflage the plant among dappled vegetation in its marshy habitats.
- In Ireland, marsh orchids are among the most common wild orchids and bloom prolifically in the Burren's limestone wetlands.
Color meanings
0
rare beauty
1
luxury
2
refinement