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Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Epipactis gigantea (Stream orchid)
Darling, Chloe

Epipactis gigantea

Epipactis gigantea Douglas ex Hook.

Stream Orchid, Chatterbox Orchid, Giant Hellebore

Orchidaceae (Orchid Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: EPGI

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Leafy stems usually growing in dense patches and in the axils of each upper leaf 1 bilaterally symmetrical greenish-brown and pinkish flower.

The lower lip and "tongue" move when the flower is touched or shaken; thus giving it the alternate name Chatterbox.

 

From the Image Gallery

18 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 4-1/2 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink , Orange , Yellow , Green , Purple , Brown
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , ID , MT , NM , NV , OK , OR , SD , TX , UT , WA , WY
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: British Columbia to Mexico; from the Pacific Coast east to the Rocky Mountains and the Black Hills.
Native Habitat: Ledges, Stream, river banks

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
Soil pH: Alkaline (pH>7.2)
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Sandy, Sandy Loam Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Limestone-based, Calcareous Acid-based

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Water garden, Bog or pond area
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Deer Resistant: High

Propagation

Propagation Material: Root Division

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: OBL OBL OBL OBL OBL
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA

Bibliography

Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1989 VOL. 6, NO.6 - Landscape Restoration, Wildflower Outlook, Wildflower Center Fall Festival, Dire...

Additional resources

USDA: Find Epipactis gigantea in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Epipactis gigantea in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Epipactis gigantea

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-08
Research By: NPC

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