Other common names
humble bee orchid
Herbaceous Perennial
A terrestrial orchid with a rosette of oblong dark green leaves and flower spikes up to 35cm. Flowers may appear from February to April and are a mixture of oval, green sepals and triangle-shaped petals flushed with bronze. It has a three-lobed brownish velvety lip, resembling a bee. The species is very common in Portugal and the Algarve where it thrives in coastal areas with sandy soils containing crushed shells, and on waste ground and abandoned farmland
Position
Partial shade
Soil Types
Chalk, Loam, Sand
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Spread
0-0.1 metre