Image to followAI-generated illustrationEpipactis helleborine
Epipactis helleborine
FamilyGenus: Epipactisnative in Germany
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2
Species
interact
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2
Interactions
documented
About this species
A shade-tolerant herbaceous orchid native in Great Britain, producing spikes of greenish to pinkish flowers in June and July and reaching around half a metre in height.
Ecological network
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Pollination
Ecological significance
As a native species, Epipactis helleborine presents no known ecological concerns in Great Britain.
Annual cycle
A herbaceous perennial; fresh shoots appear in spring. The flowering period is June and July. The plant retreats below ground in autumn, persisting through winter with its mycorrhizal associates.
Safety note
No significant safety risks are recorded for this species.
Standort & Merkmale
Light
Schatten
Moisture
Frisch (Mäßig feucht)
Soil
Mittelzehrer (Normaler Boden)
Flowering period
Jun – Jul
Soil reaction
Basisch / Kalkhold
Bioregion
Continental
Growth form
Krautige Pflanze
Woodiness
Nicht verholzt
Leaf type
Breitblättrig
Plant height
0.505 m
Morphological traits: TRY ID3 (CC BY 3.0) & TRY ID81 (CC BY)
Pflege & Anbau
Epipactis helleborine is a wild orchid and rarely grown in gardens. If attempted, it requires shady conditions, moderately moist soil, and normal nutrient levels. Its reliance on specific mycorrhizal partners makes cultivation challenging, and plants transplanted from the wild rarely establish successfully.
Scientific profile
Epipactis helleborine is a herbaceous, non-woody perennial orchid with broad leaves. It reaches a typical height of about 0.5 m. The plant is native in Great Britain. It grows in shady situations on moderately moist, ordinary soil and flowers in June and July. Like other orchids, it forms a specialized orchid mycorrhizal association for nutrient uptake.
Sources & data origin
•Interaktionsdaten via GloBI (CC-BY 4.0)
•FloraWeb / BfN
•EIVE 1.0 — Dengler et al. (2023), DOI: 10.3897/VCS.98324 (CC BY 4.0)
•GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — GBIF Secretariat (2024), DOI: 10.15468/39omei (CC BY 4.0)
•TRY Categorical Traits (ID3) — Kattge et al. (2012), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.3 (CC BY 3.0)
•TRY Global Spectrum (ID81) — Díaz et al. (2016/2021), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.81 (CC BY)
•Govaerts R et al. (2025) — World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) v14. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. DOI: 10.34885/xs7h-ze42 (CC BY 4.0)
All data is licensed under CC BY 4.0, CC0, or compatible terms. Attribution according to license conditions. Full source overview →