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bee orchid | Plant Finder | Fill My Garden

Home/Plants/Perennials

Plants > Perennials

bee orchid

Ophrys apifera

Genus: Ophrys
Family: Orchidaceae
Common Names: bee flower

About this plant

O. apifera is a terrestrial orchid with a rosette of oblong leaves and, in mid spring or early summer, flower spikes to 30cm tall, bearing up to 11 blooms, each up to 2.5cm across, with pale green or pink petals and a brown, velvety lip with yellow markings, resembling a bee

Growing Information

Height

0.1-0.5 Metres

Spread

0-0.1 Metre

Hardiness

Foliage

Deciduous

Growing Conditions

Sunlight

Partial Shade

Soil

ClayLoamSandy

AlkalineNeutral

Not Currently Available

This plant is not currently stocked at any garden centres on our platform.

Moisture

Well Drained

Aspect

East FacingSouth Facing

Exposure

ShelteredExposed

Care Guide

Cultivation

Best in well-drained, gritty, humus-rich, neutral to alkaline soil in partial shade. Plant dormant tubers in autumn, at least 5cm deep. Can be naturalised in fine turf

Pruning

Deadhead as flowers fade

Propagation

Propagate by separating offsets in autumn

Pests

Susceptible to damage by slugs and snails

Diseases

Generally disease free

Garden Uses

Uses

Ground CoverWildflower MeadowBanks Slopes

Planting Places

GreenhouseOutdoor

Season of Interest

SpringSummer

Size & Characteristics

Height

0.1-0.5 Metres

Spread

0-0.1 Metre

Habit

Climbing

Time to Full Height

Five To Ten Years