Kentucky lady's slipper
Cypripedium kentuckiense
Last reviewed: September 2026
Kentucky lady's slipper (Cypripedium kentuckiense) is a perennial forb native to AL, AR, GA, KY and 6 more states. It blooms in April, May, and June. The flowers draw bees.
Toxicity unknown
Kentucky lady's slipper (Cypripedium kentuckiense) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
12"–30" H × 12"–18" W
Bloom
Apr, May, Jun
Native to
AL, AR, GA, KY and 6 more states
Pollinators
bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 458 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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A striking woodland orchid with broad pleated leaves and a single large flower with a pale yellow pouch and long twisted maroon petals. Grows as a slow-spreading clump in rich, shaded seep and streamside soils.
Growing Kentucky lady's slipper
Grow Kentucky lady's slipper in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 30 inches tall and spread 12 to 18 inches wide.
Wildlife value
The pouch-shaped flowers trap small bees briefly to ensure pollination, a specialized relationship typical of lady's slipper orchids.
Common questions
- How much sun does Kentucky lady's slipper need?
- Kentucky lady's slipper grows best in part shade conditions.
- When does Kentucky lady's slipper bloom?
- Kentucky lady's slipper blooms in April, May, and June.
- Where is Kentucky lady's slipper native?
- Kentucky lady's slipper (Cypripedium kentuckiense) is native to AL, AR, GA, KY and 6 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does Kentucky lady's slipper attract?
- Kentucky lady's slipper draws bees.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Kentucky lady's slipper? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.