About
A terrestrial orchid with soft, folded vivid 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.
About the 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
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeLoam
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectNorth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeAlpine Rockery, Herbaceous Perennial
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0-0.1 metre
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
Native toEurope to Japan
ToxicitySkin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Care notes
CultivationGrow 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
PruningNo pruning required, allow foliage to die down naturally
PropagationPropagate 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
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs and orchid scale insect
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to grey moulds