Spiranthes aestivalis was first described by L. C. M. Richard from Paris, France in 1798 and its name refers to its summer flowering season, its common name being Summer Lady’s-Tresses.

Spiranthes aestivalis is a Mediterranean-Atlantic, Central and South European species that extends to North Africa. It is found north to Germany and northwest France, east to the Czech Republic and the Balkans, and south to the Mediterranean, including the Balearic Islands, Corsica and Sardinia. It can be found up to 1,400 m asl.
This species grows in sunny spots in humid substrates, neutral to acid soils, oligotrophic or mesotrophic. It also grows in damp depressions of coastal dunes, peatlands, damp grasslands Molinia caerulea and sub-steppe areas of annual graminoids within the Thero-Brachypodiea. This orchid prefers full sunlight and flowers from May to August.

Spiranthes aestivalis is widespread but rare in the north of its range. The species is declining rapidly in some localities but has stable populations in other parts of its range. Main threats to the species are habitat destruction due to drainage and urbanisation, agricultural use of its habitat including the use of fertilisers, and afforestation. There are serious population declines as evidenced in the species being marked as threatened in several national red lists, but the overall rate of decline is not known. More information on the current population size and trend is needed to determine the overall rate of decline and whether this species would qualify for threatened under Criterion A. Therefore, Spiranthes aestivalis is assessed as Data Deficient for the moment.
It would seem that the future survival of this species in Europe is dependant on conservation and habitat protection in the south of the continent where relatively healthy populations still flourish.