When does the lesser yellow lady's slipper bloom?

It typically flowers in May and June, with a single showy bloom per stem in woodland settings.

What pollinates Cypripedium parviflorum?

Bees and beetles are the main visitors, drawn into the pouch shaped flower where some become temporary pollinators as they find their way out.

How much light and water does this orchid need?

It grows best in part sun to part shade with dappled light and does well in medium moisture soils that drain but do not dry out completely.

Does this plant stay green year round?

No, it is deciduous. The foliage dies back after the growing season and new shoots emerge again in spring.

What habitat suits this plant best?

It grows well in open woodlands, forest edges, and calcareous or moist meadow settings with filtered light.

Is Lesser Yellow Lady's Slipper HOA-friendly?

Lesser Yellow Lady's Slipper takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Lesser Yellow Lady's Slipper

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Cypripedium parviflorum

Last reviewed: August 2026

Cypripedium parviflorum, the lesser yellow lady's slipper, blooms in May and June with twisted maroon petals framing a bright yellow pouch. It favors part shade and evenly moist, well drained woodland soil.

Toxicity unknown

Lesser Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum) 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

6"–18" H × 4"–12" W

Bloom

May, Jun

Native to

AL, AR, AZ, CO and 36 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

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 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

The lesser yellow lady's slipper is a delicate native orchid with distinctive pouch-shaped yellow flowers that bloom in late spring. This woodland perennial grows in small clumps with broad, ribbed leaves and requires consistent moisture and partial shade to thrive. It goes completely dormant in winter, disappearing until the following spring.

Growing Lesser Yellow Lady's Slipper

Grow Lesser Yellow Lady's Slipper in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 6 to 18 inches tall and spread 4 to 12 inches wide. Expect high maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Lesser Yellow Lady's Slipper takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Completely disappears when dormant, leaving bare spots
Uncommon orchid appearance may seem too wild or weedy
Requires very specific growing conditions that may be hard to maintain

Wildlife value

This orchid attracts native bees and beetles with its unique flower structure. The specialized blooms provide nectar for pollinators during the late spring flowering period.

Common questions

When does the lesser yellow lady's slipper bloom?: It typically flowers in May and June, with a single showy bloom per stem in woodland settings.
What pollinates Cypripedium parviflorum?: Bees and beetles are the main visitors, drawn into the pouch shaped flower where some become temporary pollinators as they find their way out.
How much light and water does this orchid need?: It grows best in part sun to part shade with dappled light and does well in medium moisture soils that drain but do not dry out completely.
Does this plant stay green year round?: No, it is deciduous. The foliage dies back after the growing season and new shoots emerge again in spring.
What habitat suits this plant best?: It grows well in open woodlands, forest edges, and calcareous or moist meadow settings with filtered light.
Is Lesser Yellow Lady's Slipper HOA-friendly?: Lesser Yellow Lady's Slipper takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

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.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Lesser Yellow Lady's Slipper? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

Add this plant to your garden

iPhone app Android app

Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant

Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz