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| At a time when gardeners are still
enjoying the early bulbs in the shady woodland
garden, HACQUETIA
EPIPACTIS
also begins its long flowering period.
Hacquetia (umbelliferae) is a jungle species of a
clump-forming perennial from Central Europe growing
in mountain woods of the northern Carpathians and
more eastern Alps and southern Poland. It is named
after the Austrian / Slovenian naturalist and
surgeon, Belsazar
Hacquet. |
| It unfurls its
aconite leaves soon after Christmas, and
before these leaves are fully developed the flowers
open on 1-2 inch (3-5 cm.) stems. Although they have
the appearance of green flowers with a broad central
boss of yellow, it is the tiny flowers themselves
which form the centre, surrounded by a ring of large
green bracts. The flowers generally last for weeks
on end until the leaves eventually lengthen and hide
them. |
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| Although not a spectacular plant it
is a neat, tidy and reliable perennial. It is relatively easily
grown, given rich humusy soil and dappled shade. If it is happy
it will seed about freely, leaving small seedlings for friends and
fellow gardeners. To increase stock the clumps can be divided in
late spring or early autumn.
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| Hacquetia Epipactus is a plant every
gardener should strive to obtain. I look forward to seeing it
appear reliably every spring. A variegated variant is available
from some nurseries (named Thor) but I still prefer the “real
thing”
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