Lady's-slipper orchid

What does Lady's-slipper orchid look like?

This orchid grows up to 60 cm tall and has broad, ovate leaves up to 18 cm long. Its flowers are large, up to 9 cm wide, with a bright yellow, slipper-shaped pouch (labellum) marked with red dots inside. The long side petals are often twisted and range in color from red-brown to black, sometimes green. Each stem usually bears one or two flowers. The plant spreads through underground stems called rhizomes and is long-lived.

Where does Lady's-slipper orchid come from?

Cypripedium calceolus is native to a wide area stretching from Spain across most of Europe, through Russia, and into northeast China, Mongolia, Korea, and northern Japan. It is typically found in open woodlands with moist, lime-rich soils. The name comes from Greek and Latin, meaning 'Aphrodite's foot' and 'small shoe', referring to the flower's shape. It has become rare in parts of its range due to habitat loss and collection, but remains common in some countries.

When and how Lady's-slipper orchid blooms

The lady's-slipper orchid blooms in spring and early summer, producing its distinctive flowers on stems that rise from rhizomes. It prefers semi-shaded woods with calcareous (chalky) soils and is often found among hazel trees. The plant relies on specific mycorrhizal fungi in the soil to access nutrients, which is essential for its growth and survival. It can be grown in gardens with suitable conditions, but is sensitive to disturbance.

How Lady's-slipper orchid is used

This orchid is valued for its unusual appearance and rarity. It is a protected species in many countries, and reintroduction efforts have taken place in places like the UK and Switzerland. The flower appears on postage stamps and municipal emblems, such as in Snåsa, Norway. While it has been mentioned in folklore and literature, it is not widely used in traditional ceremonies or as a cut flower.

Kinds of Lady's-slipper orchid

Closely related orchids in North America, such as Cypripedium parviflorum and C. pubescens, are sometimes considered subspecies or varieties. The genus Cypripedium includes several similar species, but C. calceolus is the largest-flowered in Europe. Its flower color and size may vary, but the yellow slipper-shaped pouch is characteristic.

What Lady's-slipper orchid means

The lady's-slipper orchid has become a symbol of rarity and conservation. It is legally protected in many countries and has featured on stamps and coats of arms. In Britain, it was nearly extinct but is now the focus of reintroduction programs. In Russian literature, it is called Adam's head or Cuckoo's slippers and is linked to folk remedies and beliefs.

Questions people ask about Lady's-slipper orchid

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
• IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesIUCN Red List, Article
• Yorkshire Dales project helping to save rare orchid from extinctionBBC, Article
• Cypripedium calceolusRoyal Horticultural Society, Article
• Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
• Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
• Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database

• Cypripedium calceolus on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data