Little beauties - Cypripedium calceolus

  These little beauties are called Cypripedium calceolus they are a lady's-slipper orchid, and the type species of the genus Cypripedium. It is native to Europe and Asia.

The labellum is the part of the flower of an orchid that serves to attract insects, which pollinate the flower, and acts as their landing platform.

Arising from a rhizome, yellow lady slipper is a perennial wildflower found in mesic and seepy forests as well as other habitats. It is one of the largest of the orchid varieties in its range.

Each plant will produce 1 or 2 blooms. They vary in color from reddish-brown to black, and occasionally green.

It can be difficult to transplant. This plant needs deep, organic soil to thrive. It is one of the easiest native orchids to maintain in a woodland garden. This plant is considered an NC Significantly Rare species.

Although not classified as endangered, climate change and human encroachment on this plant's habitats place some risks for this plant's future in the wild.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Slugs and snails frequent the plant as a food source. It is difficult to grow from seed, it can take years for the plant to be large enough to flower.