Epipactis helleborine is a robust and tall orchid, very wide-spread and very common.

It has large, spread and dark green leaves that do not clasp the stem. Flowers are well opened, green to pink and can be numerous. Hypochile is dark brown and glossy, and epichile is broad, heart-shaped with a varying colour from pink white to red purpurine.

It likes wood borders and light shady places and often blooms in colony from end of June to beginning of August.

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Several related taxons have been described, here are presented 3 varieties :
- Variety orbicularis
- Variety minor
- Variety castanearum