About
Dactylorhiza elata, the robust marsh orchid, is a vigorous, upright, deciduous terrestrial orchid reaching up to 1 m tall, with erect stems bearing narrowly oblong leaves and a long, dense spike of reddish-purple, 2 cm flowers in late spring and early summer. One of the tallest and most imposing of the marsh orchids.
About the genus
Dactylorhiza, the marsh orchids and spotted orchids, are deciduous tuberous perennials with lance-shaped leaves, often spotted or blotched with purple, and dense terminal spikes of purple, pink or white flowers in late spring and early summer. Native to Europe, Asia and North Africa, they are among the most rewarding of all hardy terrestrial orchids for naturalising in moist grassland.
Growing conditions
Plant details
Care notes