Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp. coccinea x iberica

Dactylorhiza incarnata ssp. coccinea x iberica is a hybrid of the early marsh orchid which is widespread across Europe and Asia and a related species native from Greece east into the Middle East (but not Spain). It can produce tall spikes 12-32 inches high of glowing, deep magenta flowers atop lush green leaves. Its first parent is hardy to zone 4 and the second is unknown. We would guess that this hybrid would be hardy to about zone 5 or 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.