One of the rarest orchids in Europe is Orchis spitzelii. It's an old species which has only a few occurences left, namely Gotland near Sveden and some places in Austria, France, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Greece.

This species is a relative to Orchis mascula, but the blossoms have a little different shape and color.

Due to the rarity of this species, not much is known about the garden culture. It doesn't seem to need too much lime in the soil.