wetland wildflower

Showy lady's slipper

Cypripedium reginae

Native to much of the USA and southern Canada

Saskatchewan east to Newfoundland, south to North Carolina, west to Arkansas, and north to Minnesota and North Dakota.

In the garden

A wetland wildflower for evenly moist soil. At up to 3 ft, it suits rain gardens, pond edges, and damp low spots. Hardy in USDA zones 2–8.

Light

Full sun Partial shade Full shade

Moisture

Dry Moist Wet

Find your zone:

Bees Orange-legged Furrow Bee

also Western Honey Bee, Black-and-gray Leafcutter Bee, Patchwork Leafcutter Bee +1 more
Abrupt Digger Bee
Butterflies Canadian Tiger Swallowtail

Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.

Habitat: WetlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
Native range: Much of the USA and southern CanadaUnited States (24): AR, CT, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, 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 east to Newfoundland, south to North Carolina, west to Arkansas, and north to Minnesota and North Dakota.The same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.

Moisture: MoistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
Hardiness zones: USDA 2–8 · Canadian 2–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.

Height: up to 3 ft (to 0.9 m)Typical mature height.
Life cycle: PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).

Type: WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
Bloom: May–AugWhen it flowers.
Flower color: White, PinkThe bloom color, or colors.
Toxicity: Poisonous if eatenWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.