Photo: Joachim Lutz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Pruning guide · Herbaceous plant
Lizard orchid: when and how to prune
Himantoglossum hircinum
Lizard orchid is best pruned in August.
| Pruning months | August |
|---|---|
| Flowering | May–July |
| Native to Belgium | Yes |
Lizard orchid: when to prune it?
Late August, after seed set.
What else to prune in those months? August
Lizard orchid: how to prune it?
- Leave the flowering stem until the seed is ripe and has blown out of the capsules.
- Mow the surrounding grassland to 5–10 cm and remove the cuttings.
- Spare the winter rosettes that appear from autumn: do not mow after early September.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: August.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- As a native plant, it feeds more insects than a non-native species.
Caution: Never pick the flowers: without seed set the plant eventually disappears.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Lizard orchid · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.