Epipactis helleborine subsp. minor is smaller and more frail than Epipactis helleborine subsp. helleborine, with a more sinuous stem, as well as more narrow, more yellowish and softer leaves. Flowers are less numerous and more spaced out, they are also smaller and less colored.

Subspecies rank of this taxon is not recognized by all, moreover it was first describes by the author as Epipactis helleborine var. minor ENGEL 1984. Plants similar to Epipactis helleborine but looking more fragile, were found in several French departments. However it is still unclear, regarding particularly their biotope, whether these plants belongs to the same taxon.

Unlike the type species, Epipactis helleborine subsp. minor, grows in dark underwoods rather than in the brighter wood borders, it also blooms about three weeks later.