Description
Dactylorhiza praetermissa x foliosa is a hybrid of the southern marsh orchid from northern and central Europe and the Madeira orchid endemic to that Portuguese Island. It will produce spikes up to 24 inches tall of glowing magenta flowers atop lush green foliage. Its parents are hardy to zone 5 or 6 and zone 7, 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.
