woodland wildflower
Pink lady's slipper
Cypripedium acaule
Also known as Moccasin Flower
1 of 2Native to much of the USA and southern Canada
Saskatchewan to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia; south to South Carolina and Georgia; west to Alabama and Tennessee; north to Minnesota.
- Light Part shade to shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Dry to moist Moisture preference
- Zones 2–8 Cold to heat range
- Bloom Apr–Jul Flowering time
- Height up to 2 ft to 0.6 m
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A woodland wildflower for part to full shade and dry to moist soil. At up to 2 ft, it suits shade gardens and woodland edges. Hardy in USDA zones 2–8.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
Pollinators & wildlife
- Bees Common Eastern Bumble Bee
also Eastern Carpenter Bee, Brown-belted Bumble Bee, American Bumble Bee +7 more
Pure Green Sweat bee, Red-belted Bumble Bee, Half-black Bumble Bee, Northern Amber Bumble Bee, Nevada Bumble Bee, Ashton's Cuckoo Bumble Bee, Bombus fernaldae - Moths White Slant-line
- Butterflies Canadian Tiger Swallowtail also Hobomok Skipper
- Also visited by
- Beetles: Evodinus monticola
- Flower flies: Yellow-margined Marsh Fly
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- Much of the USA and southern CanadaUnited States (26): AL, CT, DC, DE, GA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV. Canada (6): NB, NL, NS, ON, PE, SK. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Saskatchewan to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia; south to South Carolina and Georgia; west to Alabama and Tennessee; north to Minnesota.The same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Part shade to shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- Dry to moistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 2–8 · Canadian 1–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- SandyThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Soil texture
- Light to heavy (sandy to clay)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
- Soil pH
- Acid to neutralThe acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 2 ft (to 0.6 m)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
- Growth rate
- SlowA relative ranking versus other plants of the same type (USDA), not an absolute rate.
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Apr–JulWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- PinkThe bloom color, or colors.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.