Dactylorhiza elata

RHS Plant Profile
robust marsh orchid

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robust marsh orchid RHS

Synonyms

Orchis elata

Award of Garden Merit
Bulbs Herbaceous Perennial

A robust herbaceous perennial with erect stems to 1m tall, bearing narrowly oblong leaves. Flowers reddish-purple, 2cm wide, open in a dense spike to 20cm long in late spring and early summer

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or 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)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Orchidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Dactylorhiza are deciduous tuberous perennials with lance-shaped leaves sometimes spotted with purple, and dense terminal racemes of purple, pink or white flowers
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
W Europe to Medit.

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained, humus-rich, leafy soil in part shade. Ideal for a rock or woodland garden or in a wildflower meadow

Propagation

Divide in early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Rock garden
  • Wildflower meadow
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required. Deadhead faded flowers if required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free