The plant is considered Endangered in Great Britain and Least Concern internationally based on IUCN Red List criteria.

[4] The burnt-tip orchid was voted the county flower of Wiltshire in 2002 following a poll by the wild flora conservation charity Plantlife.

[7] Neotinea ustulata is distributed throughout central and south Europe, with its main populations in Spain and Greece in the south, reaching England and southern Sweden in the north, and reaching as far east as the Caucasus and Ural mountains.

[7] As this species is one of the smallest European orchids, it generally relies on low intensity grazing to compete with other plants for light.

[10] It is however, not spared by grazers; above ground, plants may be eaten by sheep, cows, rabbits, slugs and snails.

[11] The Latin specific epithet ustulata means "slightly burnt",[12] referring to the appearance of the flower spike, as the common name does.