Orchid of the Year

The Orchid of the Year (Orchidee des Jahres) is a yearly honor given since 1989 to an orchid species native to Germany by the Arbeitskreis Heimische Orchideen [de] (AHO, Native Orchid Research Group), a German orchid conservation federation. The choice of orchids follows the endangerment of the species or its habitat due to human pressure.

Heartleaf twayblade
Neottia cordata
Orchid of the Year 2023

Orchids of the year

1989 Broad-leaved marsh orchid Dactylorhiza majalis
1990 Pyramidal orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis
1991 Green-winged orchid Orchis morio
1992 European common twayblade Neottia ovata (then Listera ovata)
1993 Military orchid Orchis militaris
1994 Fen orchid Liparis loeselii
1995 Bee orchid Ophrys apifera
1996 Cypripedium calceolus
1997 Bug orchid Orchis coriophora
1998 Marsh helleborine Epipactis palustris
1999 Lizard orchid Himantoglossum hircinum
2000 Red helleborine Cephalanthera rubra
2001 Autumn ladies'-tresses Spiranthes spiralis
2002 Bird's-nest orchid Neottia nidus-avis
2003 Fly orchid Ophrys insectifera
2004 Frog orchid Coeloglossum viride
2005 Burnt orchid Orchis ustulata
2006 Broadleaf helleborine Epipactis helleborine
2007 Nigritella nigra subsp. rhellicani
2008 Southern marsh-orchid Dactylorhiza praetermissa
2009 Early purple orchid Orchis mascula
2010 Cypripedium calceolus
2011 Lesser butterfly orchid Platanthera bifolia
2012 Pale-flowered orchid Orchis pallens
2013 Lady orchid Orchis purpurea
2014 Ghost orchid Epipogium aphyllum
2015 Early marsh orchid Dactylorhiza incarnata
2016 Summer lady's-tresses Spiranthes aestivalis
2017 White Helleborine Cephalanthera damasonium
2018 Dactylorhiza majalis subsp. sphagnicola
2019 Three-toothed orchid Neotinea tridentata
2020 Broad-leaved marsh orchid Dactylorhiza majalis
2021 Creeping lady's-tresses Goodyera repens
2022 Dark red helleborine Epipactis atrorubens
2023 Heartleaf twayblade Neottia cordata