Ophrys apifera produce fiori il cui labello marrone-giallo peloso e marrone imita un bombo, sebbene nell'Europa settentrionale sia in gran parte autoimpollinante. Orchidea terrestre tubulosa di pascoli calcarei, cresce fresco in autunno-primavera e riposa dormiente in estate.
Bright, open position with sun; these are hardy Mediterranean terrestrial 'bee orchids' of open grassland. Good light in the growing season is essential.
Winter-growing: keep just moist from autumn through spring while in leaf and flower, then keep DRY during summer dormancy when the tuber rests underground.
Very free-draining, gritty, alkaline (limestone-based) substrate. Summer wet rots the dormant tubers.
Cool Mediterranean conditions; tolerates cold when dormant but dislikes summer wet. Airy, dry summer rest.
Feed very sparingly, if at all; these terrestrials and their mycorrhizal partners dislike rich conditions.
Let foliage die back into summer dormancy. Do not disturb the tubers. Non-toxic; protected in the wild — use only nursery-propagated plants.