Butterfly orchid
Anacamptis papilionacea · Orchidaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant butterfly orchid: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Blooming
- Spring (April to May)
- Adult size
- 20 to 40 cm in height
- Growth
- Slow to moderate
- Hardiness
- Hardy, down to -15 °C
- Origin
- Mediterranean basin and Middle East
- Soil type
- Well-drained, alkaline to neutral
Care
Light exposure
Place your Butterfly Orchis in a sunny to semi-shaded location. This terrestrial orchid appreciates direct morning light and protection from intense afternoon rays. A north or north-east facing position works particularly well in warm Mediterranean climates.
Soil and planting
Grow it in a very well-drained substrate, slightly alkaline or neutral, enriched with gravel or pumice. The plant dreads waterlogging in winter. In pots, use a special terrestrial orchid mix with fine bark and perlite to improve permeability.
Watering
During the growing period (autumn and spring), keep the substrate lightly moist but never waterlogged. In summer, after flowering, gradually reduce watering until you stop completely in July-August, the dormancy period. In winter, water minimally.
Fertilizing
Apply a balanced fertilizer diluted to low concentration once or twice a month, only during active growing periods (autumn and spring). Choose special orchid formulas or those low in nitrogen to encourage flowering.
Pruning and cleaning
No pruning is necessary. Simply remove faded flowers after blooming and let the foliage dry naturally in summer. You can remove dead leaves to prevent fungal diseases.
Diseases and pests
Watch for root rot caused by excessive moisture. If rot occurs, drastically reduce watering and improve drainage. Aphids may occasionally affect young shoots; a soapy water treatment is generally sufficient.
Did you know?
The Butterfly Orchis gets its name from the stunning shape of its flower, whose bilobed labellum resembles butterfly wings in flight. Highly prized by Mediterranean botanists since antiquity, this terrestrial orchid inspired numerous drawings by 16th-century herbalists, fascinated by the diversity of floral forms in the Orchidaceae family.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Chinese ground orchidBletilla striata
- Moth orchidPhalaenopsis amabilis
- Spotted orchidDactylorhiza maculata
- Lesser twaybladeNeottia ovata
- Broad-leaved helleborineEpipactis helleborine
- Western Marsh-orchidDactylorhiza majalis
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.