Cypripedium calceolus
yellow lady's slipper orchid
A terrestrial orchid with soft, folded bright green leaves 5-20cm long. In summer bears purple-brown flowers 9cm long with twisted petals and large, deep yellow lips, singly or in pairs on upright stems to 40cm high
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0–0.1 metreGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Brown Purple Yellow | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Orchidaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Potentially harmful
- Skin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
- Genus
Cypripedium are terrestrial orchids with slender rhizomes and soft fan-shaped leaves, spirally arranged or in opposite pairs. Flowers are born in racemes of up to 12 flowers during summer have white, pink, red or purple tepals and a yellow, white, pink or purple pouch
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- Europe to Japan
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in moist, fertile, leafy, humus-rich slightly alkaline soil in a sheltered site with dappled or partial shade. Provide an annual winter mulch of leaf mould. Suits a shady rock garden or woodland garden
Propagation
Propagate by division in early or mid-spring and replant immediately. Some of the soil from the root ball, which contains beneficial fungi, should be planted with each division
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Wildlife gardens
- Wall side borders
Pruning
No pruning required, allow foliage to die down naturally
Pests
May be susceptible to slugs and orchid scale insect
Diseases
May be susceptible to grey moulds
Get involved
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