Himantoglossum robertianum is a very robust plant with broad and bright yellow-green leaves and an impressive spike allowing an easy identification.

Flowers are large and fragrant with a large hanging lip that is purple, tinged with green at the edge.
Hypochrome specimens can be found with a very beautiful silvery sheen.

H. robertianum, which has been previously named Barlia robertiana (Loiseleur)W. Greuter 1967, likes French south-east garrigues where it blooms very precociously from January to April.
Generally it is the first orchid flower appearing so it is often honoured to announce the start of the "new orchid season"!