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Orchis mascula (Early purple orchid)

Other names: Adam-and-Eve, Dactylorhiza mascula, Aaron's beard, Adder's grass, Ballock grass, Bloody man's finger, Blue butcher, Bullock grass, Crake feet, Cuckooflower, Cuckooflower orchid, Dead man's fingers, Dead man's finger, Dead man's thumb, Gethsemane, Hand orchid, Keat legs, Keat's legs, Kite pan, Kite's legs, Long purples, May orchid, Purple orchid, Purple wreathwort, Ram's horns, Satyricon, Spotted orchid

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Species
O. mascula is a deciduous, terrestrial orchid with narrowly strap-shaped, mid-green leaves, often spotted purple, and, from mid-spring into summer, upright racemes of two-lipped, magenta to purple-pink flowers with lightly spotted, white-flushed throats.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
0.6 m 0.3 m 2-5 years
1 ft 0 ft 2-5 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Loamy
  • Clay
Soil drainage
  • Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Neutral
  • Alkaline
Sunlight
  • Partial Shade
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • East
  • West
Exposure
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

Plant in autumn in partial shade in humus-rich, moist to moist but well-drained soil with added leaf mould. Tolerates sun if soil is kept moist. Avoid waterlogged soil. Forms a symbiotic relationship with a fungus in the soil, allowing the plant to compete with nearby plants. Avoid using fertilizers or fungicides as these can damage the symbiotic fungus, thus killing the orchid.

Suggested uses

Rock, Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Wildflower, Woodland, Meadow

UK hardiness

H5

USDA zones

Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8

Sunset zone

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Unknown
Central Valley = Unknown
South Coastal = Unknown
South Inland = Unknown
High and Intermediate Desert = Inappropriate
Low Desert = Inappropriate

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Erect flower stem, Rosette

Native to

Europe, Great Britain, Western Asia, Northwestern Africa

Drought tolerant

No

Flood tolerant

No

Toxicity

Not toxic

Plant care

Pruning

Propagation methods

Division, Seed

Propagation

Sow seed under glass in spring. Divide as flowers fade or in spring when the leaves are fully developed. Dislikes root disturbance so transplant with a large ball or soil around the roots.

Pests

Slugs

Snails

Diseases

Divide and replant in spring

Sow spores or seeds as soon as ripe on moist compost

Improve soil moisture by adding well-rotted organic matter

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (2)

Orchis

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Orchis anthropophora
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Orchis anthropophora Man orchid
Orchis mascula
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Orchis mascula Early purple orchid
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Companion plants (0)

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