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Herbaceous Perennial

Listera ovata

twayblade

A terrestrial orchid producing, from a short rhizome, an upright stem with a single pair of broad, pale yellowish-green leaves with prominent veins. In mid to late summer a spike of flowers emerges up to 60cm tall with up to 100 flowers, but often shorter. The yellow-green flowers are hooded, with a long, forked lip

Other common names

double leaf
heart-leaf twayblade
see moretwayblade

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0–0.1 metre

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained, Moist but well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Orchidaceae
Native to the UK: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Name status: Unresolved
Plant range: Europe, N Africa, SW Asia

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained, nutrient poor, alkaline or neutral soil in full sun or semi-shade

Propagation

Propagate by division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Wildflower meadow
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slug and snail damage

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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