Dactylorhiza maculata aka Heath Spotted Orchid

Dactylorhiza maculata is the heath spotted orchid. It belongs to the orchid family and grows in the ground. Tubers below the soil keep the plant alive. Its native range spans northwestern Africa, Europe and Siberia. Britain and Ireland also form part of its native range. It grows in climates with mild heat and cold. In the British Isles, it grows on moist, acidic, peaty ground.

This bushy plant lives for years but sheds its leaves. Its mid-green leaves are shaped like a lance. They may have brown or purple spots. Garden plants reach about 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres] tall. They spread about 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres] wide as well. Plants take two to five years to reach full size. The leaves die back when the plant starts its rest season.

The RHS gives its bloom time as mid-spring through late summer. The flowers form spikes about 0.16–0.33 feet [0.05–0.1 metres] long. They range from white and pink to pale purple. Some blooms have a deeper shade of purple-red. Darker spots and streaks mark the blooms. The blooms and marked leaves both add interest to gardens.

Grow it in part shade, in moist soil that drains well. The RHS calls for soil rich in humus and leaf matter. It grows in clay and loam. The soil can be acidic, neutral or alkaline. It thus accepts more soil types in gardens than its reported British habitat suggests. Sites that face north, east or west suit it. It grows in sheltered spots or places open to the weather. The RHS gives it a UK hardiness rating of H5. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 4–8.

It suits informal gardens, rock gardens and wildflower meadows. It also fits beds, borders and shaded woodland edges. The RHS reports few usual pest or disease problems. It needs no routine pruning, though gardeners can tidy it. The listed way to grow more plants is division in early spring. This means splitting the plant into parts. Plants For A Future does not flag it as weedy.

Plants For A Future lists cooked roots as edible. Dried, ground tubers yield salep for drinks and food. The same source notes past use of salep as medicine. Its mucilage, a gel-like substance, forms a jelly. People have used this to soothe an irritated gut. These records show uses, not proof of medical benefit. Plants For A Future lists no known hazards for this species. This does not prove it safe for every person or pet.