I grow Epipactis gigantea. It is a native to California and the whole Pacific coast (north and south) up to an elevation of about 8000 feet. Epi's grow along streams in gravel beds. To try to copy those conditions, I got a small water trough (15 gallons) from the local feed store, poked holes in it a couple inches below the rim and buried it up to its rim in my garden. I filled it with a combination of gravel and potting soil and gave it a micro-sprinkler attached to my drip system. If you don't keep them wet, they will go dormant (they do go dormant in winter). They grow surprisingly fast.
I have both versions: Epipactis gigantea and E. gigantea var rubrifolia. Rubrifolia only grows in one place in Sonoma Co. in the California serpentinite belt so it is often called 'Serpentine Night'. The leaves are almost black but the flowers are just slightly darker versions of the original.
I grew them when I lived in California (zone 8) and they do great here in Reno also.
Daisy
