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Herbaceous Perennial

Epipactis gigantea

giant helleborine

A herbaceous perennial, up to 60cm tall, with mid-green, lance-shaped leaves. In summer, loose spikes of up to 15 yellow-brown, green and pink flowers with red veins can appear, each flower up to 3cm across

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Moisture

Poorly–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or North–facing or West–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: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Epipactis are rhizomatous, terrestrial orchids, bearing leaves spirally or in two ranks on the stem, without a basal rosette. The flowers have incurved upper petals, forming a helmet and the lower lip is curved into a cup shape
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Canada to Mexico

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist, humus-rich, leafy soil in part shade. Ideal for a rock or woodland garden or in a wildflower meadow

Propagation

Division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Wildflower meadow
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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