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Pruning guide · Herbaceous plant
Lady orchid: when and how to prune
Orchis purpurea
Lady orchid is best pruned in August.
| Pruning months | August |
|---|---|
| Flowering | May–June |
| Native to Belgium | Yes |
Lady orchid: when to prune it?
No pruning, just mowing: from August, once the seeds have blown away.
What else to prune in those months? August
Lady orchid: how to prune it?
- Leave the spent stems until the capsules turn brown and split open.
- Mow the surroundings from August and remove the cuttings, so the soil stays poor.
- Thin out shrubs and trees above it in winter, so enough light reaches the plant in spring.
- Never cut off the leaves: let them wither by themselves in July.
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 mow or cut between March and the end of July: the plant needs its leaves to fill its new tuber, and the seed still has to ripen.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Lady orchid · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.