As reported by the fourth updated edition of "The Little Flora of Slovenia" (Mala Flora Slovenije, 2007) there are 83 species and subspecies of wild orchids growing in Slovenia which are classified into 27 genera. However, botanists and amateur researchers keep on locating new species and hybrids – for example, the second edition of Mala flora Slovenije from 1984 only mentions 63 species and subspecies of Orchidaceae.

Traditional habitat of Orchids are dry, unmanured meadows, bright forests, alpine grassland in the mountains; they can also be quite frequently met in marshlands and bogs. However, in Slovenia the favourite habitat of orchids are mild areas in South West: Goriška Brda, the Carst and Slovenian Istria, where strong impact of Mediterranean climate provides especially convenient conditions for their growth.

In spite of the growing number of located species, different interventions to their natural habitat, like drainage and extermination of wetlands, as well as fertilising of grasslands, classify orchids among endangered plants. The Standing Rules on introducing the endangered wildlife species to the Red Data List (a catalogue issued by the Ministry of the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy, 2002) also comprise 65 species of Orchidaceae family. They are divided into different categories of distress, namely 6 species are classified as endangered species (rank E), 46 species are classified as vulnerable (rank V), 12 as rare (rank R) and one as presumably extinct (rank Ex?).

Pursuing to the European scheme Natura 2000, several protective areas (potential Sites of Community Interest – pSCI) were proposed by the profession with the objective of wildlife conservation. The 260 proposed areas cover 35,5% of Slovenian territory. Among the 27 selected species of plants published in "Natura 2000 in Slovenia – plants" (Natura 2000 v Sloveniji – rastline, 2004) there are also three of the Orchidaceae family: Cypripedium calceolus, Liparis loeselii and Himantoglosum adriaticum.