Dactylorhiza

This excellent hardy orchid is one we received many years ago from our late Plant Guru, Jerry John Flintoff as Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. africana. Well, that has been merged into D. elata and it looks right to us but we are not orchid botanists. Vigorous, with green leaves and richly colored flowers. Native to Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia in north Africa, dallying on some islands in the Med (smart orchid!) and jumping to France, Spain and Portugal up to Belgium and the Netherlands.

We presume this is simply a good form of Dactylorhiza maculata as the leaves are broader and the purple-pink flowers held in fatter heads than many of the forms we see around. A good plant and one we have slowly increased by division and now have a scant few to offer. Leaves are nicely spotted.

These hardy orchids seed around the nursery which is a very good thing as we have never got one to come up from seed we have intentionally planted. This will be pink to purple but sometimes a white one sneaks in. This is basically a bulb that goes summer dormant but appreciates ample moisture when growing. Likely some species like fuchsii may also be an option here in this Lucky Dip.

Solidly colored mid-purple flowers with each individual flower being of good size. The leaves are unspotted and green. This excellent selection commemorates Scotland's great plantsman who was a notable alpine grower and exhibitor. Nice sized rhizomes but may not flower the first year. This is a rare offering in the US. A Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy offering.

We are mad about Dactylorhiza which are the coolest hardy terrestrial (grows in the ground) orchids and very easy to grow. These are rare mondo big seed-grown plants from Dactylorhiza fuchsii 'Bressingham Bonus' grown for us by plantswoman extraordinaire Claire Cockroft. Pink.

A selection from Bressingham of this hardy terrestrial orchid chosen for its rapidity of multiplication. This does a lovely doubling at least each year when happy so a robust clump is not long in the offing. Good soil and moist but can take some late summer dry. Rare now and choice.