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What plant is this
castledine1981
Posts: 5
in Plants
Can anyone tell me if this is a plant or a weed, it started off with just the one and now I have about 12 all in different planters I don't know how or where they have come from but I really like the look of them, my guess is they are some kind of orchid but I could be wrong 
0
Posts
Yes they look like hardy orchids, you lucky so and so. I wish they were in my garden.
I think it is a Dactylorhiza fuchsii but it could be a hybrid.
thanks for the reply I would really like to know for sure what they are as I almost dug them out
If you don't want them. I'll have them. I would prepare a bed and carefully group them together, discarding the Lily bulbs. Keep as much of the soil around the roots as possible, they need a relationship with fungi in the soil.
Wild orchid, I used to have 1!
they obviously like being in a pot so I wouldn't plant them until they are dormant
lucky you
A A Milne
I have bought one or two but they don't last long with me. I have Roscoeas instead which are described as orchid like.
it looks not unlike a marsh orchid to me
The fist one came up about a two years ago and because I liked the look of it I left it just thinking its a nice looking weed then this year the rest have come sparking a little curiosity as to what they are and thanks to fidgetbones we can safely say they are orchids but I cant the exact one on the internet and driving me mad not knowing its name
im hoping to get some seeds from them to see if can grow some
The star-shaped growth on the soil surface is liverwort which indicates poor drainage and is probably essential for your orchids to thrive. The lilies will probably die in those conditions but I'd sooner keep the orchids!
The poor drainage would also make the Marsh orchid the most likely suspect as has already been suggested.
Last edited: 07 June 2016 21:03:49
ive had the lillies in that pot for about four years now and the come back every year without fail, as mentioned though I have about 12 all in different pots with different soil conditions some have moss around them and some don't it's really baffled me as to how I started with one on its own to now having so many
if I manage to grow more from seed ( if I get any that is ) I'll make sure that all the people who have helped out to id them get a plant or two from me as you all seem to like them so let's hope I can grow some for you all