Cypripedium calceolus

RHS Plant Profile
yellow lady's slipper orchid

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yellow lady's slipper orchid RHS
yellow lady's slipper orchid RHS

Synonyms

Cypripedium calceolus var. calceolus

Alpine Rockery Herbaceous Perennial
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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

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0-0.1 metre

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0-0.1 metre
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Orchidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
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