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Neottia ovata

common twayblade

Orchidaceae Europe and temperate Asia

Attracts Pollinators

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Neottia ovata, formerly Listera ovata, is a terrestrial orchid in the family Orchidaceae, producing a single upright flowering stem 8-24 inches (20-60 cm) tall from a shallow, fibrous rootstock. Near the base of the stem sit two broad, opposite, oval leaves 2-8 inches (5-20 cm) long, strongly ribbed and dull green, which give the plant its common name. From May to July the upper stem carries a slender spike of 15-100 small yellow-green flowers, each with a deeply forked, strap-shaped lip 0.3-0.6 inch (7-15 mm) long. The flowers secrete nectar and are pollinated by small wasps, flies, and beetles. The species grows in deciduous woodland, scrub, calcareous grassland, dune slacks, and old meadows across Europe and temperate Asia, on moist, base-rich soils. It depends on soil fungi during establishment and can take many years to flower from seed, so it does not transplant or establish quickly and is difficult to cultivate deliberately. Colonies can persist for decades where the ground is undisturbed, the green flowers blending into the surrounding foliage.

Native Range

Native across Europe and temperate Asia, from Ireland and Scandinavia east to Siberia, the Himalayas, and Japan. It grows in deciduous woodland, hazel scrub, calcareous grassland, fen, and dune slacks on moist, neutral to lime-rich soils.

Suggested Uses

Grown in naturalistic woodland gardens, conservation meadows, and unmown lawn areas on lime-rich soil, where established colonies are left undisturbed. It is a plant for wildlife and native-flora plantings rather than formal borders, and is seldom offered for sale because of its slow establishment.

How to Identify

Recognised by a single stem carrying two broad, opposite, oval leaves near its base and a long, slender spike of small yellow-green flowers above. Each flower has a deeply forked lip split into two narrow lobes 0.3-0.6 inch (7-15 mm) long. The paired basal leaves and green flowers separate it from most other temperate orchids, which more often have spotted or strap-shaped leaves and pink or purple blooms.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height8" - 2'

Width/Spread6" - 1'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~5 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering runs from May to July, the spike opening its many small flowers from the base upward over four to six weeks. The yellow-green flowers carry exposed nectar and draw small wasps, sawflies, ichneumons, flies, and beetles. After pollination the spike sets large numbers of tiny, dust-like seeds.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Tolerates up to 4 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 Range6.5 - 8.0(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

loam chalk clay

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

5-15 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Neottia ovata grows in dappled to open shade on moist, base-rich loams that stay damp through spring, and tolerates a wide pH range from neutral to strongly alkaline. It is rarely cultivated and resists transplanting, since it relies on associations with soil fungi and a deep, brittle rootstock that recovers slowly from disturbance. Where it appears in a lawn, meadow, or woodland garden, it persists with light shade, minimal interference, and no fertiliser or herbicide. Delaying mowing or grazing until the seed has shed in late summer allows colonies to renew themselves. The plant dies back to the rootstock in autumn and reappears in spring. It needs no feeding and spreads only slowly by seed and short rhizome growth.

Pruning

No pruning is required. The spent flower spike can be left to release seed and then taken off once it has dried, or allowed to collapse naturally. Surrounding vegetation is cut after the orchid has set seed in late summer.