
trefle.io · Taken Feb 24, 2018 by thankyousmooch (cc-by-sa)
Orchidaceae
Pink lady's-slipper
Cypripedium acaule
Also known as Moccasin flower, Stemless lady's slipper, Pink moccasin flower, Calceolus hirsutus
Native Plants · Native Orchid · Wildflower · Woodland · Shade Plant · Rare · Protected · Native Plant · Acidic Soil · Mycorrhizal · Collector Plant
Pink lady's-slipper is a notoriously challenging native orchid that requires very specific acidic, well-drained soil with the presence of a symbiotic mycorrhizal fungus to survive. It is best appreciated in its natural woodland habitat and is extremely difficult to establish in a home garden — avoid transplanting wild specimens, as it is protected in many states. If purchased from a reputable nursery-grown source, plant in dappled shade with pine-needle mulch and do not disturb the roots.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 4 hours
- Watering
- Keep soil consistently moist but never soggy; maintain high ambient humidity around roots · Every 5-7 days during growing season
- Maintenance
- High
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 6–7.5
- Temperature
- -20°F to 90°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed, Division
Hardiness
USDA 4a-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 18 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Alabama, Alberta, Connecticut, Delaware, District Of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Masachusettes, Michigan, Minnesota, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Newfoundland
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies
Sources: trefle, usda
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