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Herbaceous PerennialBulbs

Dactylorhiza viridis

frog orchid

A terrestrial orchid to 15cm tall with lance-shaped leaves and flower spikes borne in spring and early summer carrying 5-25 individual green flowers often suffused with red or brown

Synonyms

Orchis virescens Muhl. ex Willd.
Habenaria viridis
see moreOrchis viridis
Coeloglossum viride

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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

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

West–facing or North–facing or East–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: Dactylorhiza are deciduous tuberous perennials with lance-shaped leaves sometimes spotted with purple, and dense terminal racemes of purple, pink or white flowers
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained, humus-rich, leafy soil in partial shade

Propagation

By division in early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

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

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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