About the Pink Lady's Slipper

Pink lady's slipper is a member of the Orchid family.

The pink lady's slipper, a U.S. native from the Orchidaceae family, grows in damp, wooded areas. Pink lady's slippers are protected in some areas due to their long, growing period.

Identification

The perennial pink lady's slipper reaches a height of 6 to 15 inches. The plant produces only two leaves and one 3-inch-long, pink or brown flower from May through June.

Habitat

A pink lady's slipper attaches to dead pine or oak trees and is often found in low, shady forests. Pink lady's slippers prefer shaded light.

Transplanting

Pink lady's slippers do not transplant well into the home garden. The plant requires a rhizoctonia fungus present in the soil to propagate.

Warning

The hairs on the plant leaves and stems may cause an allergic reaction in some people. The symptoms include the immediate presence of a rash similar to poison ivy.

References

• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Cypripedium acaule
• Connecticut Botanical Society: Pink Lady's Slipper
• North Carolina State University: Cypripedium acaule
• Fairfax County Public Schools: Pink Lady's Slipper