Orchid

Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii)

One of the surprises that awaited us when we stopped mowing the bank along one edge of the property was the unexpected appearance of several spikes of Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii). It's well-named, considering this is Britain's most common orchid species; it's missing from the Scottish highlands, but is widespread in suitable habitat elsewhere. Though it prefers chalky soil, this perennial will grow in any alkaline soil. It particularly likes damp grasslands (parts of our garden probably qualify there), scrub, fens, and open woodland, though less salubrious locations, such as railway embankments and spoil tips (i.e. where mine pilings are dumped) are also tolerated. It blooms from June through August, sometimes rising as high as 2 feet (60 cm), with the blossoms on the spikes opening over the course of a week or so from bottom to top. Flowers on different spikes range from white to varying shades of pink, with darker spots and stripes marking the lower three lobes. The lance-like leaves too are often spotted with purple. Bumblebees love it (they kept photobombing my attempts to get pictures) and longhorn beetles are also reputed pollinators. We've found, over time, that not every spike comes up every year, but hopefully, we'll continue to get at least one annually going forward.