Plant Profile: Cypripedium parviflorum

The Yellow Lady's-slipper is a native orchid that thrives in wooded regions, open meadows, and along streams across the United States and Canada, particularly in the Piedmont and mountainous areas of North Carolina. This orchid features typically hairy leaves and produces its distinctive flowers from late spring to early summer. The flower showcases a vibrant yellow lower lip, known as the slipper, adorned with red spots on the inside. The upper sepals range from light to dark burgundy and spiral outward. This plant is a favorite food source for deer.

The characteristics of the Yellow Lady's-slipper can differ by region, affecting the size of its flowers and leaves, as well as the degree of hairiness on its leaves and stems. In North Carolina, the specific variety is var. parviflorum, which is classified as imperiled.

Cultivating the Yellow Lady's-slipper in a garden is relatively straightforward. It should be planted in soil enriched with compost, allowing the roots to spread horizontally on the surface and then be covered with compost, as they do not penetrate the soil like many other plants. This orchid thrives in partially shaded environments and can gradually form colonies. It is an excellent choice for a native woodland garden.