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Ophrys insectifera

fly orchid

Orchidaceae Europe

Attracts Pollinators

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow

HardinessZones 5–8

Overview

Ophrys insectifera is a slender terrestrial orchid growing 6-24 inches (15-60 cm) tall from underground tubers, with a basal rosette of two to four narrow, glossy green leaves. The thin flowering spike carries 2-12 well-spaced flowers, each mimicking an insect. Green sepals frame a velvety, chocolate- to purplish-brown lip 0.4-0.5 inch (10-12 mm) long, marked across the middle with a dull bluish band, while two thread-like brown upper petals stand up like antennae. The flowers are pollinated by male digger wasps that attempt to mate with the lip and carry the pollen between plants. Flowering lasts a few weeks in late spring. The plant depends on soil fungi for nutrients, especially as a seedling, and appears above ground unpredictably from year to year. Each plant is long-lived but slow to establish and may skip flowering in dry seasons.

Native Range

Native across much of Europe, from Britain and Scandinavia south to the Mediterranean. Grows on thin, lime-rich soils in chalk and limestone grassland, open woodland and scrub edges, old quarries, and fen margins, mainly in the lowlands and lower hills.

Suggested Uses

Found in chalk and limestone grassland, nature reserves, and conservation grazing rather than ordinary gardens. It is part of species-rich calcareous turf and is not moved or planted by gardeners. Its dependence on soil fungi and short lime-rich turf rules out general garden use.

How to Identify

Recognised by the insect-like flowers: a narrow, velvety brown lip 0.4-0.5 inch (10-12 mm) long with a dull bluish cross-band, green sepals, and two upright thread-like petals resembling antennae. The slender spike carries few, well-spaced flowers. The narrow lip without broad side lobes separates it from the bee orchid Ophrys apifera, which has a rounder, patterned lip.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 2'

Width/Spread3" - 6"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Spring

Flowers in May and June, a little earlier in southern parts of its range and later in the north. Each spike is in flower for about 2-4 weeks. Flower number varies with the previous season growth and rainfall. In dry years plants may not flower or may stay below ground.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

brown with a bluish band and green sepals

Foliage Description

glossy green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range7.0 - 8.0(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

chalk loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

Several years from seed

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to light shade on thin, sharply drained, lime-rich soils of low fertility. It depends on specific soil fungi and rarely survives transplanting or ordinary cultivation. Established colonies need short, open turf kept free of dense grass and scrub through light grazing or mowing. Fertiliser, ploughing, and heavy shading destroy the fungal links the orchid needs. The plant sets dust-like seed that spreads on the wind but germinates only where the right fungi occur.

Pruning

No pruning is required. The leaves and flower spike die back naturally after seed is shed in summer. Surrounding grass is kept short by grazing or late-summer mowing to stop taller plants from shading the rosettes.