1 named cultivar

‘var parviflorum’Small Yellow Lady's Slipper

perennialN. America Native

Small Yellow Lady's Slipper

The Story

Plant Bio

Cypripedium parviflorum, yellow lady's slipper, is a terrestrial orchid native across Alaska, Canada and most of the United States, growing about a foot to eighteen inches tall in woodland. Three to five ribbed oval leaves clasp the stem, and in late spring each stem carries one or two flowers with an inflated golden pouch framed by twisting brownish-purple sepals.

It depends on a symbiotic soil fungus to germinate and establish, which is why wild-collected plants almost always die and why nursery propagation is slow and expensive. A healthy clump can live for decades and increases slowly, so it rewards patience — but it will not tolerate being moved, fed or allowed to dry out.

Uses & Benefits:

A genuinely spectacular native orchid, with golden slipper flowers over ribbed woodland foliage in late spring.

Long-lived once settled, and clumps increase slowly year on year without any intervention.

Pollinated by small bees, which it traps briefly in the pouch and releases past the pollen.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

18 inches

Width

12 inches

Light

Partial Sun, Shade

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7

Water

Moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Canada and the United States

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Buy only nursery-propagated plants; never collect from the wild.
Plant in autumn in humus-rich, well-drained neutral soil.
Choose dappled or partial shade beneath deciduous trees.
Set the growing point just below the surface.
Mulch with leaf litter and keep evenly moist.
Leave it undisturbed; do not divide young clumps.

Pro Tip

Buy nursery-propagated stock only — wild-collected plants have lost their fungal partner and almost never survive a second season.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Buy nursery-propagated plants ✅
Mulch with leaf litter each autumn 🍂
Keep the soil evenly moist 💧
Leave established clumps undisturbed 🌱

Don't

Dig plants from the wild ❌
Apply fertiliser; it burns the fine roots ❌
Let the soil dry out or waterlog ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Monitor
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Specimen in a woodland gardenShaded native plant collectionLeaf-mould bed beneath deciduous trees

Companion Plants

Christmas Fern Wild Ginger Foamflower Woodland Phlox Bloodroot

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Small Yellow Lady's Slipper questions

What zones can Small Yellow Lady's Slipper grow in?

Small Yellow Lady's Slipper is hardy in USDA Zones 4–7. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Small Yellow Lady's Slipper deer resistant?

Yes — Small Yellow Lady's Slipper is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Small Yellow Lady's Slipper bloom?

Small Yellow Lady's Slipper typically blooms in late spring through early summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Small Yellow Lady's Slipper need full sun?

Small Yellow Lady's Slipper does best in part shade.