Found in Coastal Heathland along our cliff top but further south-west in open forest also. Like all our terrestrial orchids it grows from a tuber in the autumn winter months; flowering in spring with aerial parts dying back in summer. Plants may occur singly or in small colonies.
The species name 'rubra' means reddish in reference to the colour of the flowers.
Foliage is limited to a single, deeply channeled leaf to 25cm in height and 10cm width; reddish toward the base.
Flowers can be single or in clusters of four to five and sit atop a slightly zig-zagging flower stem up to 50cm in height; salmon-pink in colour with the column a deep yellow at the tip.
Like all Sun-orchids each flower responds to sunlight in springtime and opens best on bright, sunny days.