Ireland has 31 native species of orchid one of which, the Western Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza occidentalis), is unique to the island. The latest addition to the orchid flora is the Dune Helleborine (Epipactis dunensis) discovered growing in and around Dublin in 2019.

These rare plants represent a wonderful heritage of which everyone should be aware. As with so much of the natural world whether it be plants, insects, birds or the stars in the night sky, until you “get your eye in” diversity goes unnoticed. However, once your eye is trained you will appreciate detail and so be rewarded with the capability of spotting the unusual.

This wisdom applies to Irish wild orchids, and it is worth the effort of learning their identification. Some Irish orchids are readily identifiable such as the delightful Bee, Butterfly, Pyramidal and Common Spotted orchids while others are more challenging, and a few are inconspicuous and only of botanical interest.

Irish native orchids are all terrestrial (ground-growing) and to varying degrees habitat specific. They are usually found in undisturbed localities in soil low in nutrients and where there is little competing vegetation. Some prefer wet typically acidic locations while others must have dry often alkaline soils in order to flourish. In areas where marsh and dry habitats occur close by you can observe a wide diversity of orchid species in close proximity. There is no finer example of this than in the Burren of County Clare with its fissured limestone paving alongside pockets of wet peaty soil.

Other reliable sites for seeing orchids in Ireland include:

• North Bull Island, Co. Dublin
• Mullaghmore, County Sligo
• The Raven, County Wexford
• Lady Dixon Park, Belfast, Co. Antrim
• Killard Point, County Down

Irish orchids flower in succession from early May until late July depending upon the species and by late summer their seed pods will have ripened and opened allowing the wind to disperse the dusty seeds over large distances. After producing seed, the leaves wither and the orchid’s nutrients and carbohydrates gained during the summer are then stored in underground. 

Some native species are ‘wintergreen’, which means beginning leaf growth during the autumn and resting as a rosette of leaves during the winter. Others only begin their growth in spring. Some of us may be fortunate to have native orchids naturally occurring in the garden and maintaining a low nutrient level will allow a multitude of wildflowers to thrive. Simple management techniques such as removing grass clippings or meadow cuttings can be of great benefit.

It is both illegal in Ireland and immoral to collect orchids from the wild. Laboratory grown plants can be obtained for culture but at time of writing there are no commercial entities cultivating and selling native species.

It is better just to marvel at them in the wild where they always look at their best complemented by other native flora.