There are 49 species of orchids in Great Britain. Some are found throughout the country while others can only be found in one or two locations.
The Helleborines
Red Heleborines are rare and can only be found on southern beechwood, on chalk. The flowers are a rose-purple color. White Helleborines are relatively common. They can be found in southern England in beechwoods on chalk. They tolerate shade very well. Narrow-leaved Helleborines or Sword-leaved Helleborines are rare. They are scattered throughout the Scottish Highlands, Wales and to Hampshire. These orchids have long, narrow leaves and no leaves on the flower head. Marsh Helleborines are common in southern dune slacks, fens and calcareous marshes.
Violet Helleborine can only be found mainly around Kent, Surrey and the Chilterns. This flower likes beechwoods on chalk and oakwood on sandy soil. It has a green bloom with a pinkish-brown lip. Broadleaf Helleborine grow in clearings and close to pathways. It enjoys pine woods and is very common in western Wales. The leaves are broad and ribbed.
Dark Red Helleborine are becoming increasingly rare. The leaves grow in two opposite rows on either side of the stem. They have been spotted in Gait Barrows Nature Reserve in Lancashire, Great Orme in Llandudno, North Wales or County Clare in Northern Ireland. Dune Helleborine are very rare. They may be seen in the Lanarkshire “coal bings,” or on the dunes in Anglesey and Lancashire. These orchids can tolerate heavy metals. Green-leaved Helleborine and Pendulous Flowered Helleborine are found in deep woodlands and they are very rare.
Insect Mimics
There are four species that can be found in the United Kingdom. Each of these, to a certain extent, relies on pseudo-copulation to become fertilized.
Fly Orchids have flowers that are small and well-spaced. They are most common in south east and south central England at the edge of downland beechwoods and in open downlands. They have wire-like upper petals which resemble antennae and iridescent blue band which mimics a fly’s wings blue sheen. The Bee Orchid is widespread and can be found throughout England and Wales. It prefers chalk turf but it will also grow in sandy soils or clay.
The Early Spider Orchid is a rare orchid. It is a protected species and can only be seen in certain areas along the south coast of England. The Late Spider Orchid is found throughout Western and Southern England. It is rare and protected. The locations are managed to ensure its survival in the wild.
“Spotted” Orchids
The Common Spotted Orchid likes chalk and limestone grasslands. The flower spikes are dense and normally dark to light pink. Usually there are one to three loops on either side of the center line of the lip. The leaves of this orchid are dark-spotted. The Heath Spotted Orchid has a broad lip and pale flowers. It grows in acidic heaths. The Early Marsh Orchid grows between six to twelve inches tall. It likes calcareous, wet meadows. These can be found throughout the United Kingdom.
The Southern Marsh Orchid is widespread and fairly common. They like marshes and dune slacks. It usually grows from twelve to eighteen inches tall. The lip of this orchid is rounded and folds back on itself. Northern Marsh Orchids like marshes and dune slacks. They grow from six to twelve inches tall on average. They look similar to the Southern March Orchid except the lip on the Northern Marsh Orchid is diamond-shaped.
The Broad-leaved Marsh Orchid has four to ten, large brownish-purple marked leaves and can grow to 24 inches tall. Each flower has dorsal sepals and petals that form a hood over the lip. The lip has dark purple loops and spots on it. This orchid grows in marshy and unimproved meadows. The Irish Marsh Orchid has a cylindrical spike with deep purple flowers. The lip is a diamond-shape and has sepals that spread. The leaves may either be unspotted or have one spot at the tip. This orchid likes dune slacks, lake edges, or quarries that are located on neutral to calcareous soils and is found in Northern Ireland.
Orchis Group
The Military Orchid or Soldier Orchid is a very rare flower. It can only be found in Buckinghamshire Chilterns and Suffolk. It became extinct in the 1920s, then two decades later it was rediscovered. Through conservation and manual fertilization the numbers are slowly increasing. This flower has a pale lilac hood which looks like a military helmet.
Monkey Orchids are the only orchid in Great Britain that opens from the top down. It has a dense, spherical flower head. This is a very rare orchid. It can only be found in Chiltern Downs and two locations in Kent. Lady Orchids are found in Kent in very dense woods and continuing to the wood’s clearing. They can have up to 50 flowers and be two feet high. They have a hood that can be almost black to dark red. The lip is usually white with red or purple spots.
Burnt Orchids or Burnt-tip Orchids are scattered in southern England on chalk. The largest colonies are on the Wiltshire Downs. The top of the flower head appears to be burnt. The flower heads are compact and semi-conical. This orchid appears to have the longest life cycle of any British orchid. It is possible for this orchid to spend fifteen years developing the rootstock before a leaf appears.
The Green-winged Orchid has green veins on its “wings”. It can be common in suitably, undisturbed, neutral or calcareous grassland. Early Purple Orchids are found in shady woods. They are one of the most common. They usually have a dark-blotched rosette of leaves at the base. The flowers are a rich purple color.
Other Orchids
The Bird’s Nest Orchid has a nectar bearing cup at the back of the flower. It lives on decaying organic matter and has no chlorophyll. Autumn Lady’s Tresses are not common and it is thought that the numbers are reducing due to loss of habitat. The flowers form a single tight spiral on almost leafless stems.
The Fragrant Orchid likes chalk and limestone but is fine in damp, almost marshy conditions. The flowers are usually pink or white. The Greater Butterfly Orchid grows in woods, heaths, and grasslands and can be found more in the south of Great Britain. This is a greenish white flower.
Pyramidal Orchids are widespread and like dry chalk and limestone grasslands of south and east England, or in the sand dune slacks in the west. This is a rosy purple flower that is arranged in a pyramid. Lizard Orchids are very rare. The flowers are olive-grey with streaks of purple. The lips often become entangled in the flower head. The best place to see them is the south Kent coast.
The Man Orchid’s color can vary from greenish to yellow to dark red. The nectar for this flower is held in a hollow at the top of the lip. It is an uncommon plant that likes chalk and limestone grasslands in the south, east and central parts of England. The Bog Orchid likes to grow on mats of Sphagnum moss and where there is a slow but continuous flow of water. It can be found frequently in Scotland and also in scattered areas in England and Wales.
The Fen Orchid is very small and is listed as an endangered species in Britain. It blends in with its environment so it is difficult to find it. It has two broad leaves and three to six greenish-yellow flowers. It can be found in the dune slacks of South Wales.
The Coralroot Orchid is extremely rare. It likes dark forests; however it does produce some chlorophyll. The roots are said to resemble coral. Small White Orchids are now extremely rare and in decline. It grows to about six inches tall and likes calcareous to mildly acidic soils.
Dense-flowered Orchids have creamy-greenish coloration. It can grow to almost 10 inches tall in the woods or rough, grassy places. The stem is tinged with mauve to pale pink color. The flowers are green-to-white to pink. Lady’s Slipper Orchids only exist in Yorkshire. So it is considered very rare.
Lesser Twayblades are most common in Scotland or northern England, North Wales or Ireland. They can be found in moorlands, bogs and mossy places. They have a pair of heart-shaped leaves at the base of the plant. The flowers are green, pink and brown.
