Yellow lady's slipper

What does Yellow lady's slipper look like?

Yellow lady's slipper is a perennial orchid that stands 16 to 60 cm tall, sometimes reaching 80 cm. Its leaves are long, oval, and pleated, with fine hairs underneath. The plant usually has one large flower, rarely two, held above the leaves. The flower's most striking feature is its bright yellow, pouch-like lip, shaped like a slipper, with red-dotted veins and faint reddish spots inside. The sepals and petals are greenish to reddish with stripes and dots, and the flower can be up to 10 cm across.

Where does Yellow lady's slipper come from?

This orchid is native to North America, stretching from Alaska and Canada down to Georgia, Arizona, and New Mexico. It was first named Cypripedium parviflorum in 1791 by Richard Anthony Salisbury. The species is highly variable, partly due to hybridization and its ability to adapt to different environments. Four main varieties are recognized, each with its own range, from Alaska to the southern United States.

When and how Yellow lady's slipper blooms

Yellow lady's slipper grows in upland forests, woodlands, and sometimes wetlands, preferring soils that are slightly acidic to neutral. It thrives in moderate shade to almost full sun, often in fir, pine, or aspen forests at elevations between 1,800 and 2,900 meters. The plant blooms in spring or early summer, producing its distinctive yellow pouch flower. It spreads through slender roots from a jointed rhizome.

How Yellow lady's slipper is used

People appreciate this orchid for its unique appearance and as a symbol of native wildflowers in North America. It is sometimes grown in gardens by enthusiasts who value native plants. In some regions, it is considered an emblematic flower, but the sources do not mention specific ceremonial or medicinal uses.

Kinds of Yellow lady's slipper

There are four main varieties: var. exiliens in Alaska; var. makasin, the northern yellow lady's-slipper, across northern areas; var. parviflorum, the small yellow lady's-slipper, in the southern part of its range; and var. pubescens, the large yellow lady's-slipper, widespread and sometimes treated as a separate species. These varieties differ in size, range, and some flower details.

What Yellow lady's slipper means

Yellow lady's slipper is valued as a native orchid and is sometimes used as a regional emblem. Its unusual slipper-shaped flower makes it a favorite among wildflower enthusiasts and botanists. The plant's variability and wide range have led to many synonyms and local names, reflecting its importance in North American natural heritage.

Questions people ask about Yellow lady's slipper

Good reading and sources

• USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
• IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesIUCN Red List, 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 parviflorum on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data