- Approximate height: 40cm (16 inches)
- Recommended water levels: plant in ordinary to wet soil but not under water
- Flowering time: June
- Flower colour: Pink/purple
- Supplied in an 11cm (1 litre) pot
One of the best marsh orchids, but one which you can rarely or never buy. This is a naturally-occurring cross between the Southern or Purple Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa) and the Common Spotted or Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii). It is found in the same habitat as each parent - marshes, fens, damp meadows and even roadside verges. Where both parents grow together you will see the occasional Dactylorhiza x grandis in the midst of them, but as it is largely sterile, it rarely crosses back into either species. We grow both parents here at the nursery, and each year we will get one or two spontaneous D. x grandis seedlings as a result. Pleasingly, the plant takes its leaf colour from its Common Spotted parent, with the same lovely spots, but its height and structure from its Southern parent, with stems and foliage that are taller and more robust. The flower colour is intermediate between the two parents - pinky-purple with crisp markings. It combines the best characteristics of both its parents. Plant anywhere from a moist or boggy area to a standard flower bed, full sun or partial shade.
For reference, the fourth picture shows D. x grandis in the larger pot in the centre, flanked by each of its parents on either side.
You will receive one flowering-size plant. If planting it out into the garden, this is best carefully done in spring before it flowers, or in autumn after it has flowered. This plant has unusual roots, from which its Latin name is derived. They are few and fleshy, rather than a fine web, and do not hold on to the soil. Therefore when you take the plant out of the pot some of the soil may fall out - this is normal.
Stock is very limited as we grow all plants ourselves naturally from seed, and flower them to check their identity before offering them for sale.
If designing a planting scheme, we recommend approximately 2 Dactylorhiza x grandis plants per square foot of ground, or 1 plant per linear foot of pond edge. Read more here on how to pot and care for your marsh plant.