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Herbaceous Perennial

Orchis mascula

early purple orchid

A terrestrial orchid with leaves usually spotted with deep purple, and dense, upright spikes of small, intricate, light to dark purple flowers from spring to early summer

Other common names

Aaron's beard
Adam-and-Eve
see moreadder's grass
ballock grass
bloody man's finger
blue butcher
bullock grass
crake feet
cuckooflower
cuckooflower orchid
dead man's finger
dead man's fingers
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

Synonyms

Dactylorhiza mascula

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Orchidaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Orchis are tuberous, terrestrial orchids with rosettes of light to dark green leaves, sometimes purple-spotted, and dense, upright spikes of delicate, purple, red, pink, green, yellow or white flowers
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Europe, Africa, Asia

How to grow

Cultivation

Grows best in fertile, moist, humus-rich soil in partial shade, though tolerates full sun in cooler areas. Plant dormant tubers in autumn at least 8cm deep

Propagation

Propagate by separating offsets in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Wildflower meadow
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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