Family

Orchidaceae

Description

The yellow lady’s slipper orchid (Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens) is one of North America’s most iconic and admired native wildflowers. Variety pubescens features a bright yellow push-like “slipper” and twisted lateral petals in shades of brown or maroon. It grows in moist woods, swamps, and shaded hillsides, favoring rich, calcarious soils with good drainage and consistent moisture. Though showy in bloom, it is slow to establish and sensitive to disturbance, making it a treasured yet delicate species in both wild and cultivated settings.

Native across eastern and central North America, this variety ranges from Canada to the southern Appalachians, often found in oak-maple forests and forested limestone outcrops. Though threatened in some areas by habitat loss and overcollection, it remains locally common in protected woodlands and well-managed native plant gardens.

Bloom Time

May to June