Broadleaf helleborine (Epipactis helleborine) growing at the edge of our driveway in Augusta County, VA.
This summer, my husband Eric, a professor at Mary Baldwin College, has made it his mission to find and photograph every wildflower that grows in Augusta County, Virginia – or I should say he is searching for the ones that over the last 25 years he hasn’t managed to find and photograph. Eric is in the process of expanding his wonderful and very informative website that explores the wildflowers of the central Shenandoah Valley; their natural history, the meaning of their names, and certain interesting folk and traditional uses (fun trivia as he puts it). He has always believed that there is more to a wildflower than just its name. He feels that you should know them like a friend; where they prefer to hang out, who their relatives are, where they come from …
This past week, Eric spent most of a day looking for a particular wild orchid that has been reported in Augusta County. He never found it … until he got home, got out of the car and discovered it growing in the gravel right beside his parking place!
Unusual flowers consist of 3 pinkish petals and 3 greenish-pink sepals. The lower petal is formed into a cup-shaped structure and produces nectar.
Broadleaf Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine) is a wild orchid native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It was introduced to the United States in the 1800′s for its medicinal value. This attractive orchid has a rather scattered distribution in the eastern half of the U.S. which is more than likely a result of its use as a medicinal plant.
Broadleaf helleborine is an interesting plant with very interesting flowers. You can tell it is in the orchid family because each flower on the tall flower spike resembles a miniature orchid. It grows about 20″-30″ tall and thrives in dry, rocky, open woodlands, along woodland streams, and in disturbed areas.
Tall spikes of attractive flowers are in bloom from June-September.
In some areas of the northeastern U.S., it is actually becoming invasive. It is less common in the mid-Atlantic, and in Virginia, it has only been reported in 3 counties, one of which is Augusta County. It appears to be spreading, however, and has now made it onto a “watch list” as a potentially invasive species in the mid-Atlantic region. It seems to grow quite well given the right conditions and it must really like where we live because, once he discovered this one, we started noticing others that have popped up throughout our gardens. Hmmmm, I was pretty excited that we had wild orchids growing on our property but perhaps this isn’t such a good thing after all!
Well, at least for now, I’m happy to have it in the garden – but I’m going to keep an eye on it!
Oh, and as to its medicinal uses …
the roots of this plant are said to cure INSANITY. PERFECT!
Until next time – Happy Gardening!
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