Pink Lady's-slipper
Cypripedium acaule
Last reviewed: August 2026
Pink Lady's-slipper is a woodland orchid that blooms in May and June, favoring dappled light under pine and oak canopies with acidic, well drained soil.
Toxicity unknown
Pink Lady's-slipper (Cypripedium acaule) 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
4"–12" H × 4"–12" W
Bloom
May, Jun
Native to
AL, CT, DE, GA and 21 more states
Pollinators
bees, flies
Before you buy
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Pink lady's-slipper is a rare native orchid with distinctive pink pouch-shaped flowers that bloom in late spring. This low-growing woodland plant requires specific soil conditions and mycorrhizal relationships to thrive, making it challenging to establish and maintain in typical garden settings.
Growing Pink Lady's-slipper
Grow Pink Lady's-slipper in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 4 to 12 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
Pink 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.
- Extremely rare and difficult to establish
- Dies back completely after blooming
- May be mistaken for weeds when not flowering
Wildlife value
Supports specialized pollinators including native bees and flies that are attracted to its unique orchid flowers.
Common questions
- When does Pink Lady's-slipper bloom?
- Flowers usually open in May and June, with a single pouch-shaped pink bloom per stem.
- What pollinates Pink Lady's-slipper?
- Bumblebees are the main pollinators, lured into the pouch by scent, while flies occasionally visit as well.
- What light and soil conditions does it prefer?
- It grows best in part shade to full shade under a forest canopy, in acidic, well drained soil with consistent but moderate moisture rather than standing water.
- Is Pink Lady's-slipper easy to grow in a home garden?
- It is difficult to establish outside its natural woodland setting because it depends on specific soil fungi and slow-growing root systems, so transplanted or purchased plants often struggle.
- Is Pink Lady's-slipper HOA-friendly?
- Pink 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 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 Pink Lady's-slipper? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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