This plant has stunning flowers in early summer. It is a very long-lived perennial (it returns every year) and grows naturally in dry to wet areas. CAUTION: The seeds are VERY small! And also, this plant is one if the most coveted garden plants, but it is very difficult to grow from seed.
Orchids can grow in a wide range of hardiness zones, from 2–9. Some orchids can tolerate short periods of freezing temperatures, while others are always killed by colder temperatures.
One or often two flowers at the top of the stem, the inflated slipper is 1 to 2 inches long, white heavily streaked with deep pink to nearly white and a rare genetic albino of pure white. Flower column white, dipped in yellow and fine splashed reds hung to dry in the slippers door. Petals and sepals are white, finely pubescent (hairy), oblong to 2 inches long. Lateral sepals are fused behind lip; dorsal (upper) sepal is erect and broader. A single leaf-like floral bract to 5 inches long sits at the top of the stem behind the ovary.
Plant Info:
Also known as:
Genus: Cypripedium
Family: Orchidaceae (Orchid)
Life cycle: perennial
Hardiness: 2-9
Origin: native
Habitat: shade, sun; moist prairies, sedge meadows, calcareous fens
Bloom season: June - July
Plant height: 10 to 27 inches
Notes:
You are not a true Minnesotan if you cannot recognize this flower or know its name. It is our State Flower! Showing up on a wide variety of sites within its range, from wet to dry and sunny to deep shade. From the broad open meadow and road ditches of the NW they migrate deep into shady bogs in the Cass Lake Area. They are increasingly available in the nursery trade at a demanding price for gardeners wanting to test their earth skills. Stories of thievery are still told. Remember on bitter cold winter nights, we are the only state that boasts an orchid as its emblem.
Lady Slipper Growing Tips
Light: Morning or evening sun is okay, but plants should be shaded in midday. High open shade or the shade of the north side of a building will work very well.
Soil: Cypripediums like an evenly moist but well-drained soil and will not tolerate soggy or overly dry conditions. Depending on the soil you are starting with, you may want to augment it. If you have acid soil, a 1/4 cup of lime may be added to each planting hole or dusted on top. If your soil is a heavy clay, you will need to remove it and fill the planting hole with a sandy loam. If, on the other hand, your soil is a dry open, sandy type, you would want to add loam and humus. A good loamy garden soil that is not acidic should be fine and not need much amending.
Mulch: A layer of mulch is very important. We use pine bark 3/4 to 1 inch deep with a light layer of pine needles on top. It will keep the soil cool and evenly moist. The soil should not be allowed to dry out completely, especially during the first year, as plants are getting established. Once the ground has started to freeze, we recommend adding some more mulch be that more bark, or a layer of straw or pine boughs to provide additional winter protection. This is especially important for fall plantings. Remove this extra layer in spring. If you live in an area that has wet winters, it is a good idea to cover the newly planted cypripediums with something like a board or sheet of plastic to keep off the rain so they don't get soggy over their first winter. Don't forget to remove the covering in the spring before the plants come up.
Fertilizer: When planted in a good rich soil, fertilizer is not always necessary. However, you may wish to try a yearly spring application of a granular organic fertilizer before the plants emerge. If you like to actively fertilize, you can apply a quarter-strength liquid fertilizer every 7 to 10 days from before the plants come up in spring until mid-August. Fertilizing early is a good idea as this is when the plants are forming their buds for the next spring. A yearly dusting of lime is always helpful if you have soils that tend toward the acid or neutral side.
Planting: Plants should be planted with the tips of their buds just below the surface (1/2 inch deep). Lady slippers should be planted with their roots spread out in the top four inches of the soil. Their roots tend to grow horizontally. Care should be taken when planting that the roots are not exposed to the sun or drying wind.
Watering: Please resist all temptation to over-water. These plants like an evenly moist soil and should be watered only through dry periods such as late summer. Like most other perennials, they should never be allowed to dry out completely.