Boletus rhodopurpureus is a mycorrhizal species associated with warm forests of Quercus, possibly also Fagus. It occurs in southern and central Europe and very sparsely also in warm parts of northern
Europe. The species is overall rare and is considered threatened in most countries of its occurrence. Being confined mainly to older Quercus stands, it is highly endangered by intense forestry practices like clear cutting, which do not enable the persistence of the species’ mycelia.

Current name is Imperator rhodopurpureus (Smotl.) Assyov, Bellanger, Bertéa, Courtec., Koller, Loizides, G. Marques, J.A. Muñoz, N. Oppicelli, D. Puddu, F. Rich. & P.-A. Moreau.
Formerly name B. purpureus Fr. was often used for this species. Boletus (Imperator) luteocupreus is very close, yet distinct (Assyov et al., Index Fungorum no. 243, 2015). B. rhodopurpureus is trikingly polymorphous in terms of colour variaton - fully xanthoid form is f. xanthopurpureus.

The most favourable habitats of B. rhodopurpureus are deciduous forests with oak, mainly open oak and oak-hornbeam forests in warm areas, many localities at least in central Europe lie near fish-ponds or on their dams. It is ectomycorrhizal with Quercus (reportedly laso with Fagus) and usually occurs in vicinity of large old trees. The species seems to prefer somewhat heavy soils - in the Czech Republic it does not occur in limestone areas and prefers slightly acidic, calcareous and argillaceous soils with bedrock formed by silicified calcareous claystones and marlites.