Dactylorhiza foliosa x maculata ssp. podesta

Dactylorhiza foliosa x maculata ssp. podesta is a hybrid of the Madeira orchid endemic to that Portuguese Island and the subspecies of the widespread Eurasian heath spotted-orchid found in the Netherlands. It will produce spikes up to 16 inches tall of deep pink flowers with magenta markings atop lush, heavily burgundy-spotted green foliage. Its parents are hardy to zone 7 and zone 5, respectively, so this hybrid is likely intermediate in hardiness to about zone 6. Marsh orchids grow across Europe usually in moist habitats that are either moist year round or seasonally moist in the winter becoming drier in the summer. Despite their marshy natural habitats, these hardy orchids do well in evenly moist garden soils in full to part sun and are easy to grow. Over time they will develop into impressive clumps of lance-shaped leaves with many vertical spikes of delightful orchid flowers.