Marsh helleborine is a rare plant with beautiful flowers and legally protected. The plant needs an alkaline, nutrient-poor and wet environment and grows preferably in sunny places. These orchids are mostly found in marshy dune slacks, where they blossom in massive numbers. The Dutch name 'moeraswespenorchis' (marsh wasp orchid) refers to the habitat where it grows and one of the major insects that pollinate the flowers. Marsh helleborine is found on the Wadden Islands, in the North Holland dunes and in the delta region. It is often found together with another rare orchid species, the fen orchid.