Dactylorhiza viridis aka Longbract Frog Orchid

Dactylorhiza viridis is the frog orchid. It belongs to the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It grows in soil, not on trees. Kew calls it a tuberous geophyte of temperate regions. This means it stores growth in tubers below ground. Its native range spans subarctic and subalpine lands in the Northern Hemisphere. The RHS also lists Britain and Ireland as native homes. It has three older names: Coeloglossum viride, Habenaria viridis, and Orchis viridis.

This soft-stemmed plant lives for years and grows upright. It sheds its leaves as the seasons change. The leaves have a lance shape and give it a narrow outline. The RHS text gives a height of about 0.5 feet [0.15 metres]. Its size table gives a wider range: 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres]. The table lists that same range for its spread. These figures differ; note the smaller height in the text. The RHS says it takes two to five years to reach full size.

Flower spikes come in spring and last into early summer. Each spike bears five to twenty-five small flowers. The blooms are green, often with red or brown tones. Their colour looks muted, not bright. The green blooms help mark out this small orchid. Its lance-shaped leaves are a further key trait. The supplied account of this species says nothing about its fruit or seeds.

The RHS says to grow it in part shade. Use soil rich in humus and leaf matter. Keep the soil moist, but let excess water drain. Listed soil types are chalk, clay, and loam. The soil can be acid, neutral, or alkaline. The RHS lists sites that face north, east, or west. Sites can be open to the weather or sheltered. Its H5 rating means it withstands harsh winters in most UK areas. This covers lows of about minus fifteen to minus ten degrees Celsius.

The RHS suggests it for informal gardens and flower beds. It also lists wildlife gardens and wildflower meadows. To grow more plants, divide it in early spring. It needs no pruning. The RHS reports few pest or disease problems. This does not mean such problems can never arise. The supplied species evidence cannot establish whether it is safe to eat or toxic. It gives no medicinal uses or details about pollinators for this species.