Mountain Lady's-slipper
Cypripedium montanum
Last reviewed: August 2026
Toxicity unknown
Mountain Lady's-slipper (Cypripedium montanum) 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
8"–24" H × 6"–12" W
Bloom
May, Jun, Jul
Native to
CA, ID, MT, OR and 2 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 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
Mountain lady's-slipper is a rare native orchid with distinctive pouch-shaped white and purple flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer. This woodland perennial grows in small clumps with broad, pleated leaves and requires consistent moisture and partial shade. It goes completely dormant in fall, disappearing until the following spring.
In an HOA neighborhood
Mountain 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 soil
- Extremely rare and expensive specialty plant
- Requires very specific growing conditions
Wildlife value
The unique flower structure attracts native bees, particularly bumblebees that become temporarily trapped and must crawl through the bloom to escape, ensuring pollination.
Common questions
- How much sun does Mountain Lady's-slipper need?
- Mountain Lady's-slipper grows best in part shade conditions.
- When does Mountain Lady's-slipper bloom?
- Mountain Lady's-slipper blooms in May, June, and July.
- Where is Mountain Lady's-slipper native?
- Mountain Lady's-slipper (Cypripedium montanum) is native to CA, ID, MT, OR and 2 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- What pollinators does Mountain Lady's-slipper attract?
- Mountain Lady's-slipper draws bees.
- Is Mountain Lady's-slipper HOA-friendly?
- Mountain 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.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. 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 Mountain Lady's-slipper? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz