I could find no information on herbivory of this plant, likely because it is too uncommon for any herbivores to actively select. Cephalanthera austiniae lacks any external structures such as trichomes as defenses.
Snails have been seen consuming another species from Cephalanthera, suggesting that this plant is occasionally eaten by herbivores. My guess is that when the Phantom Orchid rarely does flower, it takes a chance when it does so. Since the root system is much larger and more extensive than the flowering stem itself, it can produce more flowers even after it has been eaten or damaged.
