Dactylorhiza purpurella - Marsh Orchid

Dactylorhiza purpurella, also known as the Purple Orchid, is a particularly hardy terrestrial orchid that produces magnificent flowering spikes of bright magenta pink in late spring. It is a botanical species native to Great Britain, Ireland, and Denmark, and thrives in sunny or partially shaded areas with acidic, slightly moist, humus-rich, and well-drained soil.

Dactylorhiza purpurella belongs to the orchid family. In its native habitat, it is also known as the northern marsh orchid, as it can only be found in northern regions, particularly in marshy areas. It is a perennial plant with tuberous roots that resemble fingers (Dactyle = finger; Rhiza = rootstock). The foliage is deciduous, emerging in spring and disappearing early in the season, sometimes as early as the end of August. Flowering occurs from May to June. The fairly stout flower spike, in the shape of a conical spike, measures 30 to 35cm (12 to 14in) in height. It consists of flowers measuring 1 to 2cm (1in) in diameter, with a pink color and dark pink macules, bordered by violet. The lip (large petal located at the bottom of the flower) is distinctly angular, almost diamond-shaped, and barely lobed. The lanceolate-shaped leaves, quite narrow and upright, are a vibrant green and form a beautiful tuft. They are very rarely spotted with brown.

Our Dactylorhiza plants are not collected from the wild but are propagated in nurseries. It is a time-consuming process, which increases their price, but they are robust and perfectly suited for planting in the ground. However, quantities are always very limited!

We have planted this Dactylorhiza on a slightly shaded slope in our exotic trail, using a mixture of clay soil and leaf compost that remains slightly moist. It has become spectacular in this location. In full sun, the soil should be consistently slightly to very moist during summer. It looks superb in a wild meadow with field flowers such as cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) and thistles.