Pink Lady’s Slippers (Cypripedium acaule) | Accent on Natural Landscaping

One of the things I enjoy most about my walkabouts at our hunting property is finding Pink Lady’s Slippers (Cypripedium acaule) in bloom. And finding one in a new location is for me like receiving a surprise gift! They are so-o exquisite. I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed discovering their subjects!

Note: Be sure to click on each photo and then click again to see the orchid enlarged.

In my experience it is unusual to find more than one woodland orchid growing in a clump such as this lucky find.

The color of the blossoms of the Pink Lady’s Slippers (Cypripedium acaule) range from magenta to whitish-pink.

Another common name for the Pink Lady’s Slipper is Moccasin Flower.

The two opposite basal leaves of the Pink Lady’s Slipper have conspicuous parallel veins. The lone flower at the end of the stalk is exquisite in its design.

Pink Lady’s Slipper’s grow in a variety of habitats. Here they grow on ledgerock in humus and acidic, but well-drained soil under hornbeam and other deciduous trees.

It’s always special to find a Lady with a twin.

Like most orchids, this woodland orchid has a mutually beneficial relationship with the fungus mycorrhizae in the soil known as “symbiosis.”

Pink Lady’s Slippers are long-lived, but when deer nip them off before they set seed, it typically takes a couple of years for them to bloom again.

Bees are the primary pollinators for Pink Lady’s Slippers. Attracted by the orchid’s bright color and sweet scent, the bees find no nectar once inside the pouch.

The bees enter the flower pouch through the front slit and are trapped. To get to the exits, they must pass under the stigma depositing pollen collected from other flowers before picking up new pollen as they escape.

Finding a Pink Lady Slipper growing in an unexpected place makes it even more special.

Mother Nature knows the best spots to grow native orchids. They do not transplant well because it is difficult to duplicate the symbiotic relationship with the mycorrhiizae.

That’s my walking stick to the right of the photo. My turkey hunting partner and brother David made it for me many, many years ago. I will cherish it forever.

During the past couple years, the wind has been particularly rough on some of our older trees. As they fall and open the canopy to more light, we are grateful to see more Pink Lady’s Slippers (Cypripedium acaule) appear in new locations.

The deer think Pink Lady’s Slippers are dessert. It’s always sad to see one nipped off, or in this case two.

Clintonia aka Bluebead Lily (Clintonia borealis) is often found in the same vicinity as Pink Lady Slipper orchids.

Comments

peggy Hill says

June 11, 2025 at 9:57 am

Does picking a flower from stem kill the plant and if a deer eat the flower does it kill the plant

- Donna VanBuecken says
  
  June 17, 2025 at 11:45 am
  
  Peggy — the flower is significant. When it’s removed, the plant needs time to replenish. Three years ago, my brother Doug mistakenly stepped a flower and it does not produce the flower, yet. But it will. The energy reserves in the flower need to be replenished before it can produce another flower. It takes at least three years or more to produce a mature flower — Donna

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