broad-leaved marsh orchid
Dactylorhiza majalis
USDA zones5 to 8
SunHandles full sun to partial sun
WaterHandles moderate to moist soil
Size6 to 18 inches tall6 to 12 inches wide
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer
- Bloom color
- Purple to pink/white flowers and purple-brown leaf blotches
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay, chalk
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Notes
Broad-leaved marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza majalis) is a perennial for low-maintenance gardens and naturalized areas. It is hardy to USDA zone 5, or down to -20°F (-29°C). This plant likes full or part sun and average to moist soil of most types. Purple, pink, or white flowers open in spring and again in summer. The leaves carry purple-brown blotches, and the plant grows 6 to 18 inches tall.
Pairs well with Sweet woodruff, Ostrich fern, and Japanese forest grass.
Native range
Europe.