Epipactis palustris
marsh orchid
This striking native orchid brings height, structure and fine detail to damp planting schemes. Upright reddish stems reach around 50cm...
9cm pot
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3 × 9cm pots
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Plant description
This striking native orchid brings height, structure and fine detail to damp planting schemes. Upright reddish stems reach around 50cm (20in), topped with elegant flower spikes carrying up to 20 generously sized blooms, each mixing creamy green to purplish-brown tones with a bold white lip delicately streaked and veined in deep purple, finished with softly frilled edges.
Broad, oval leaves sit at the base, giving the plant a strong, natural form that works beautifully beside ponds, in bog gardens or anywhere the soil stays reliably moist. Epipactis palustris is well suited to chalky conditions as well as wetter ground, making it surprisingly adaptable for an orchid, and it settles happily into informal, wildlife-friendly spaces where it can mirror its natural habitats of marshes, grassland and humid woodland.
Broad, oval leaves sit at the base, giving the plant a strong, natural form that works beautifully beside ponds, in bog gardens or anywhere the soil stays reliably moist. Epipactis palustris is well suited to chalky conditions as well as wetter ground, making it surprisingly adaptable for an orchid, and it settles happily into informal, wildlife-friendly spaces where it can mirror its natural habitats of marshes, grassland and humid woodland.
Eventual height & spread
Flowering period
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Plant features
Position
Full sun / light shade
Rate of growth
Average
Soil
Reliably damp or boggy
Hardiness
Fully hardy
How to care for Epipactis palustris:
Plant into consistently damp soil, ideally at pond margins, bog gardens or moist meadow areas, positioning the crown at soil level and allowing space for natural spread.
Keep the soil moist at all times, especially in dry spells, and avoid disturbing the roots once established; allow foliage to die back naturally after flowering to support strong growth the following year.
Keep the soil moist at all times, especially in dry spells, and avoid disturbing the roots once established; allow foliage to die back naturally after flowering to support strong growth the following year.
Please note:
This pond plant dies right back in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
