Neottia ovata

FamilyGenus: Neottiaheimisch in Deutschland

About this species

A native British orchid of woodland edges on calcareous soils, this herbaceous perennial reaches about 36 cm and flowers from May to June.

Ecological significance

As a native component of low-disturbance woodland edge communities, it has no recorded adverse ecological impact and contributes to the natural biodiversity of its habitat.

Annual cycle

Flowers appear in May and June. The plant is herbaceous; above-ground growth dies back outside the growing season.

Safety note

No safety data is recorded for this species.

Standort & Merkmale

Light

Halbschatten

Moisture

Frisch (Mäßig feucht)

Soil

Mittelzehrer (Normaler Boden)

Bloom time

Mai – Jun

Soil reaction

Basisch / Kalkhold

Bioregion

Continental

Growth form

Krautige Pflanze

Woodiness

Nicht verholzt

Leaf type

Breitblättrig

Plant height

0.359 m

Morphological traits: TRY ID3 (CC BY 3.0) & TRY ID81 (CC BY)

Pflege & Anbau

This species would require a semi-shaded position, moderately moist but well-drained soil, and a calcareous, medium-nutrient substrate. It is not commonly cultivated and should not be taken from the wild.

Scientific profile

Neottia ovata is a native terrestrial orchid in Great Britain. It is a herbaceous perennial with broad leaves and typically reaches a height of around 0.36 metres. The plant favours semi-shade and fresh, moderately moist, calcareous soils, and is most often associated with woodland edge habitats where disturbance is low. Flowering occurs in May and June. Its ecological preferences indicate a requirement for basic, lime-rich ground.

Sources & data origin

•TraitCH — CC BY 4.0TraitCH 2.0 contributors; imported as source-preserving NaturKompass taxon evidence.

•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. Attribution according to license terms. Full source overview →