Epipactis gigantea (Giant Helleborine)
Giant Helleborine, Stream Orchid, Chatterbox Orchid, Giant Hellebore
Epipactis gigantea (Giant Helleborine) is a terrestrial orchid with loose spikes of up to 32 showy flowers, 1 in. across (3 cm), spread out along the stem. The sepals are green or greenish, with petals ranging from greenish to pink to rose, often with purple-brown or red markings or veins. Blooming for several weeks from mid-spring to mid-summer, the flowers are borne on erect stems bearing mid-green, lance-shaped leaves. They bloom in sequence up the stem. Approximately two months after flowering, the foliage fades, then disappear completely with the arrival of winter. The root system forms a dense spreading clump of rhizomes. Giant Helleborine will spread over time. Native to western North America, Giant Helleborine grows naturally in wet areas in a variety of habitats, including riverbanks, hot springs, and meadows. Ideal for a rock or woodland garden or in a wildflower meadow.
- Grows up to 12-30 in. tall (30-75 cm) and 6 in. wide (15 cm).
- Performs best in moist, humus-rich, leafy soil in partial shade.
- Lovely addition to beds and borders, cottage gardens, woodland gardens, rock gardens, and bog gardens, near ponds and streams. Can be grown in containers too.
- Virtually pest and disease free. Deer resistant
- Propagate by division in spring.
- Native to western North America from western Canada to central Mexico. This is one of the most abundant orchids of the Pacific coast of North America.
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Requirements
Hardiness | 5
– 10 |
---|---|
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Orchids, Perennials |
Plant Family | Epipactis - Helleborines |
Exposure | Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid) |
Height | 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm) |
Spread | 4" – 6" (10cm – 15cm) |
Spacing | 6" (15cm) |
Water Needs | High |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Poorly Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, California, Midwest, South Dakota, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas |
Tolerance | Deer |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Patio and Containers, Ponds and Streams |
Garden Styles | Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
Martin Fowler Shutterstock
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
Hardiness | 5
– 10 |
---|---|
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Orchids, Perennials |
Plant Family | Epipactis - Helleborines |
Exposure | Partial Sun |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid) |
Height | 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm) |
Spread | 4" – 6" (10cm – 15cm) |
Spacing | 6" (15cm) |
Water Needs | High |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Poorly Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, California, Midwest, South Dakota, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas |
Tolerance | Deer |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Patio and Containers, Ponds and Streams |
Garden Styles | Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |