 "Bulbophyllum wolfei" was first formally described in 1991 by Bruce Gray and David Jones and the description was published in "Austrobaileya".The specific epithet ("wolfei") honours "Mr T.J. (Tom) Wolfe, of Atherton, Queensland" for his assistance with orchid research.The fleshy snake orchid grows on trees and rocks in rainforest between the Mount Carbine Tableland and Daintree National Park in Queensland at altitudes from .