Dactylorhiza praetermissa (Southern Marsh-orchid)

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Dactylorhiza spp.

marsh orchids

Orchidaceae

Europe, North Africa, temperate Asia, and North America

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterHigh

HardinessZones 5–8

Overview

Dactylorhiza spp. is a genus of about 75 species of terrestrial orchids in the family Orchidaceae, native to Europe, North Africa, temperate Asia, and parts of North America. Plants grow from finger-like, divided tubers, sending up leafy stems 6 to 36 inches (15 to 90 cm) tall in spring. The leaves are lance-shaped, sometimes marked with dark spots or blotches, and clasp the lower stem. Each stem ends in a dense cylindrical spike of many small flowers, usually in shades of pink, purple, magenta, or, less often, white or yellow, the lip three-lobed and patterned with darker dots and loops. The flowers are pollinated by bees and other insects despite carrying no nectar reward. Many species hybridize freely where they grow together, which makes identification difficult. D. maculata and D. fuchsii grow in grassland and open woodland, while D. majalis and related species occur in wet meadows, fens, and marshes. The genus needs damp, low-nutrient soils and a particular soil fungus to germinate, so it is hard to establish from seed in gardens.

Native Range

Native across Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia, with a few species in North America. The genus is widespread through cool and temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere.

Suggested Uses

Grown in bog gardens, damp meadows, and naturalistic plantings where the soil stays moist and unfertilized. The spring flower spikes suit wildlife and pollinator gardens. Established clumps are divided in late summer to increase stock.

How to Identify

Recognized by leafy stems rising from divided, finger-like tubers, lance-shaped leaves that are often dark-spotted, and a dense cylindrical spike of small pink to purple flowers with a three-lobed, dotted lip. Frequent hybridizing blurs the lines between species. The plants appear in spring and die back by late summer.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 3'

Width/Spread6" - 1'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering occurs from late spring into summer, generally May to July depending on species and altitude. Each spike carries many flowers that open from the base upward over two to three weeks. The plants die back to the tubers after seed set.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

pink, purple, magenta, white, or yellow

Foliage Description

green, often dark-spotted

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

peat loam silt

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3 to 5 years from seed to flowering

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Dactylorhiza spp. species need damp to wet, low-nutrient soil in full sun to light shade and a suitable soil fungus to grow from seed. They occur naturally in fens, wet meadows, and grassland, and decline in rich, fertilized, or dry soils. Soil pH varies by species from acidic bog to limy marsh, broadly 5.5 to 7.5. Established tubers are hardy and increase slowly into clumps. Disturbance, drainage, and fertilizer are the main causes of decline in cultivated and wild plants.

Pruning

Pruning is not applicable to these herbaceous orchids. Flower spikes can be left to set seed or removed once faded. The dying foliage is left in place to return reserves to the tubers before it is cleared in late summer.

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic