Anacamptis sancta

Anacampsis santa, the Sacred Orchid, is a botanic species from the Eastern Mediterranean that is quite rare in cultivation, as well as in nature. This terrestrial orchid starts growing in autumn, and in spring it produces floral spikes of varying colours, ranging from pink to dark purple. It then goes dormant in the dry summer soil. Adapted to specific biotopes and climates, this orchid acclimates more easily in Mediterranean rock gardens. It can also be grown in pots in less favourable regions, allowing for control of the substrate, protection from summer rain, and protection from cold and damp winters.

Anacampsis santa belongs to the orchid family. This species is only found in the Aegean islands, Cyprus, Anatolia, and the Near East. In its native lands, this plant is found near the sea, on poor and well-drained limestone soils: in scree, on bare cliffs, in uncultivated and hostile places, or on sandy dunes. It is a perennial plant with a tuberous root, which loses its leaves in summer. The foliage emerges in autumn and disappears by the end of spring, before July. It consists of simple, linear, lanceolate, entire, non-spotted, light green leaves. Flowering occurs between April and May along the coast, sometimes in June in colder climates. The slender  flower spike measures between 20 and 45 cm (8 and 18in) in height. The modest-sized flowers consist of a labellum (the large petal located at the base of the flower) that is deeply divided and topped by sepals and petals forming a narrow helmet. At the back, the nectar-rich spur is short and relatively thick, curving downwards. The flowers do not have any spots, and their colour varies depending on the plants. They can be a mauve pink, a light pink, or a medium pink, with some being a fairly dark purple-pink, sometimes with a greenish tinge. The labellum also has another characteristic: its base is furrowed and has two ridges on either side of the entrance to the spur. In Turkey, the "bulbs" of this orchid are used to make a local beverage called Salep.

Our Orchids are not harvested from the wild but are propagated in nurseries. Obviously, this is a lengthy process that increases their price, but they are robust and well-suited to open ground. Quantities are always very limited!

Less tolerant than typical garden orchids, this Anacampsis santa is more suitable for knowledgeable enthusiasts. It can be acclimatised quite easily in a limestone rock garden in a Mediterranean climate, as long as it is not too cold in winter: it can tolerate brief freezes of around -8 /-10 °C (14°F) in dry soil and requires a rain-free summer. In this setting, you can combine it with various plants from scrubland and dry areas that have the same requirements but won't compete too much with it: Montpellier soapwort, common thyme, botanical tulips, and botanical crocuses, rockroses, and lavenders.