Bee orchid.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien

Difficile

Type de plante

Terrestrial orchid

Lumière

Full sun to partial shade

Lumière en intérieur

Lumière vive indirecte

Arrosage

Tous les 7 à 14 jours

Taille adulte

1 to 2 feet

Croissance

Lente

Rusticité

USDA 6 à 9

Floraison

Late spring to early summer

Entretien

This plant is notoriously hard to keep in a container because it relies on specific soil fungi. It prefers undisturbed soil and plenty of light. Watch for yellowing leaves as a sign of poor drainage or fungal issues.

Arrosage

Keep the soil moist but never waterlogged during the growing season.

Engrais

Use a very dilute orchid fertilizer only during the active growth phase.

Taille

Remove the flower spike only after the seeds have dispersed.

Rempotage

Repotting is generally discouraged as it disrupts the delicate root and fungal relationship.

Sol

Chalky or limestone based

pH du sol

Alkaline

Température

-10 à 30°C

Humidité

40 à 70%

Sécurité

Humains

The plant is generally considered non-toxic but should not be consumed.

Enfants

Keep away from children as the plant is delicate and not meant for handling or consumption.

Allergènes de contact

There are no known significant skin irritants associated with this orchid.

Allergènes aéroportés

The pollen is not considered a significant airborne allergen.

Comestibilité

This plant is not considered edible and ingestion may cause digestive distress.

Comment l'identifier

• Lip resembles a fuzzy bumblebee
• Pinkish purple sepals
• Greenish basal leaves
• Slender upright flowering spike

Hauteur

0,2 à 0,5m

Envergure

0,1 à 0,2m

Feuilles

green, deciduous

Fleurs

pink, brown, yellow, 2 à 4cm

Problèmes courants

• Root rot — Occurs when the soil remains too wet for extended periods.

La cultiver

Multiplication

seed

Quand planter

autumn

Plant in areas with low competition from aggressive grasses to ensure the orchid receives enough light.

Bonnes associations

• Quaking grass — It shares similar requirements for open, lime-rich grassland habitats.
• Cowslip — They both thrive in the same well-drained, nutrient-poor soil conditions.

Espèces similaires

• Ophrys sphegodes — It shares a similar mimicry strategy and habitat preference.

Science

Famille

Orchidaceae

Genre

Ophrys

Ordre

Asparagales

Classe

Liliopsida

Région d'origine

Europe, Mediterranean, and parts of the Middle East.

Préservation

While widespread, it is protected in some regions and should never be collected from the wild.

It thrives in calcareous grasslands and disturbed sites where it forms symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi.

Intérêt pour la faune

nectar source

Pollinisateurs

abeilles

Utilisations

ornamental gardening, wildflower meadows

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

Can I grow this in a pot?

It is very difficult to maintain in containers due to its specific fungal requirements.

Why did my orchid disappear?

The plant is deciduous and dies back to a tuber after flowering, often remaining dormant for long periods.

D'où vient le nom

The genus name Ophrys comes from the Greek word for eyebrow, while apifera refers to the bee-like appearance of the labellum.

Bon à savoir

• The name apifera means bee-bearing.
• It is often called the bee orchid.
• It can self-pollinate if bees are absent.
• The plant often appears unexpectedly in disturbed ground.