PlantFiles: Broad-leaved Helleborine, Nodding Ladies' Tresses
Epipactis helleborine

Interestingly, this plant is considered 'protected' in Michigan (as in 'do not pick'). I have seen it in the U.P., but it doesn't seem to be spreading quickly.
It has, however, found its way into my garden in the Chicagoland area.

I have had this plant come up in all of my beds (mostly full to part shade). This year I have had a white version come up in 2 beds (one quite sunny and one extremely shady). Has anyone else seen white versions? The whole plant is white, as if it were blanched. It has yet to flower; I'll share notes when it does.

I found a few voulenteers in my rock garden this year. I let them be, thinking they may have been something I planted that was late to come up. What I got were these cute little orchids. Sadly, they seem to be on the menu for aphids.

grows in my parents yard, not only in the garden area but pops up all over the grass. Seems to be quite invasive. Looking for a way to get rid of it. Has only been there a few years. but I've read it can persist underground for years surviving on food provided by a fungus.

I never bothered to look up whether it was deemed invasive or not in my state however The Wisconsin Botanical Information System is deeming it introduced, naturalized and ecologically invasive. I know the plant volunteered for me from somewhere a few years ago and then the next year there were about 10 of them and then the following year there were consderably more of them and they were no longer concentrated to the original area in which I had located them. I have removed them all... I think.

Their native range is Europe. They love to take over disturbed areas.

I cannot be positive on this, but I believe I read that this plant is considered an invasive in North America. My neighbor who grows it says it spreads readily (too much?) Can anyone verify this?

I grow exotic species in my house, so it was a real treat to find it in my garden. I have had them in my gardens for 8 years now. I found my first one quite by accident, I was not able to weed that season till quite late, and found it blooming in my garden. They like good drainage, as most terestrial orchids do, they like a soil with sand in it best. They also appear to like acid, as I usually have them growing around pine trees and oak trees the best. They can be transplanted if absolutly nescisary, be sure to get all of the root. They are quite long. Most of mine here are the green and brown variety and they use bees, and hornets to propogate. The seed pods are eaten by the birds and are also spread that way. I have not had much success yet with seed collection to spread them to other parts of my garden, but one year I hope to find the secret!!! I would very much like to know if this plant is protected as cyripediums, by the DNR. If anyone has an answer, PLEASE let me know!!! I forgot to mention, most of my plants have seeded themselves in 3/4 to 1/2 sun locations, if this helps anyone!!!

Epipactis Helleborine has shown up in my hosta garden for two years now. Last year I pulled it out thinking it was a weed. I live in Southern New Hampshire. I have many lady slippers in my woods but did not realize there were other wild orchids in the area. This year the plant showed up in two locations. Not unattractive but not a show stopper either. Prefers full shade, regular waterings.

Epipactis species (e.g., gigantea) can be used as a substitute for Cypripedium in herbal medicine.

Epipactis grows in almost any habitat, but it is usually found under a canopy of trees. Some people consider it to be a weed.

This orchid is a native of Eurasia and northern Africa and was actually first recorded in the United States in Syracuse, New York (in 1879). It is quite common in many areas today.

I got this information from the experts at eNature.com.