Local Orchid Sites N W S and E The Compass links (ABOVE) bring you to outstanding botanical Sites in, or near, Co. Roscommon. It is Home to us now! It has a greatly underestimated range of Flora and Plant habitats. Go out an Explore! Just click on any of the 4 BlueCompass points (ABOVE). 

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EAST Bee Orchid Birdsnest Orchid

WEST Marsh Orchids Fragrant Orchids

NORTH Small White & Greater Butterfly Orchid

Green Winged Orchid Dense-flowered Orchid  SOUTH

SUMMER

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RESEARCH : What to do?  WildWest has been recording and collating some interesting specialist Orchids, rare in general and unique as a collection in North West Ireland. List of all species in this area,  found in many different places. To go to Pages use the dark BLUE titles.

Orchids all around us!

   White orchids https://www.wildwest.ie/whiteorchids23.html   

Home Page 2025

The 2025 season is well over, but now is the time to study our records and make plans for the 2026 season… We   look   forward   to   the   first   emergence   of   the   Early   Purple   orchid    in   Spring,which   starts   the   season   off.   Then   it’s   the   Green- winged   orchid,   followed   by   the    Dense   flowered   orchid.    Click   on   the   Compass   Links   on   the   Left   of   this   page   for   details   of   local orchids. Other   rare   orchids   found   around   the   west/north-west,   would   include   Small   White   Orchids   (May   and   June).   These   are   another protected species occurring in low hills around the Bricklieves; west of the Hills and the N4 route from Carrick-on-Shannon. Also   occurring   in   this   Habitat   (the   Bricklieves)   are   the   Lesser   Butterfly   Orchid   and   Greater   Butterfly   Orchid   (early   to   mid   July)   The   Greater   Butterfly   Orchid   also   occurs   on   fields   on   lower   ground   which   are   left   ungrazed   into   early   Autumn;   where   they   regularly occur if undisturbed; elsewhere they have shown rapid decline in numbers where grass is cut early at the end of May or June. Early    summer    around    the    North    West    brings    the    Common    and    Heath    Spotted    orchid ,    Bee    orchids ,    Frog    orchid    and Helleborines .   (Not   the   Fly   orchid ,   unfortunately,   very   rare   but   which   can   still   be   found   in   The   Burren ).   Then,   we   have   the   season (basically   JULY   to   OCTOBER)   when    Irish   Lady’s   Tresses      can   flower   and   propagate.If   the   water   level   rises   much   in   Sept/Oct   these plants   will   be   flooded.   BUT,   they   have   amazing   talent   to   recover   and   overwinter   while   underwater   on   the   Mayo   lakes,      and   re- emerge   in   future   years.   Can   be   large   (40cm)   and   occur   in   numbers   up   to   600   if   not   damaged.   See   our   Spiranthes   romanzoffiana page. Last in the season (but not least!) is the lovely little Autumn Lady’s Tresses, found locally at Strandhill. See the Strandhill page HERE )

Spiranthes romanzoffiana (Irish Lady’s Tresses) Lough Cullin Co. Mayo 2025

Dense Flowered           Small White Orchid           Frog Orchid                   Early Marsh Orchid          Greater Butterfly               Fragrant Orchid                     Bee Orchid      

Spring/Summer collection of other Orchids: Moving from Left to Right these 7 featured early orchids emerge roughly in line with the seasons. These are mostly montane species growing in hilly places, coastal dunes and marshes.

Other Orchid species group into choice of Habitat; Marshes, Fields, Reed Beds  and the macabre Birds Nest Orchids without colour. As well, there is a small interesting SITE of 4 white- flowering species. See BELOW:  See link BELOW to ongoing surveys and research on  Irish Ladies Tresses aka… Spiranthes romanzoffiana