Lady's Slipper Orchids
Lady’s Slippers (Cypripedium spp.) are hardy terrestrial orchids found in many temperate areas across North America, Europe, and Asia. Greenland™ is proud to be one of the very few sources of artificially propagated, nursery grown lady’s slippers in Alberta. While these elusive gems are not necessarily difficult to grow, they do have some specialized requirements. This page will give you some background and care information, as well as showcase some varieties for 2026.
A few facts about lady’s slippers:
- They are most associated with woodland and fen habitats
- Relatively slow-growing plants that do not like to be disturbed often
- In the wild, the seeds and seedlings form a symbiotic relationship with specialized fungi to help them germinate and grow
- Wild plants typically do not transplant well and should be left alone
- Our plants are grown from seed, which is germinated under sterile conditions in a lab, where special hormones and nutrients mimic what the fungus would provide in nature
- The plants are then grown under nursery or garden conditions for 5-6 years before they are old enough to flower (we sell only blooming sized plants)
- The price of the plants reflects the high costs of growing these plants from seed to flowering over such a long period
- Once planted in your garden, assuming proper planting and care, lady’s slippers will live for decades, increasing in the number of stems each year until, after a few years, you will have lovely clumps with dozens of flowers
- The flowers appear between late May and early July (depending on variety) and last about 2 weeks on average; many are delicately scented
- They do not require special fungi to thrive in the garden
- Lady’s slippers are completely hardy in central Alberta (most are zone 2-3) and do not require any sort of special protection to survive our extreme winters
- They are recommended for planting in the garden only (not for in containers)
Care Information
The most important factors in growing these plants well are site selection and soil preparation. Planted in the right location and in the right soil, they require very little maintenance.
- As soon as possible after bringing your plants home, plant them in the ground. They are difficult to maintain in pots and can deteriorate quickly
- Until they can be planted, keep the pots in a cool, shaded area and do not allow them to completely dry out, but also take care not to overwater. Water when the soil is just barely damp
- The best location to plant is an east or north exposure, or under a high deciduous tree canopy with dappled shade. They should be shaded from hot afternoon sun, but do best with morning and/or evening sun
- Dry areas underneath large coniferous trees are not good locations
- Areas with high competition from large, fast-growing plants or that are heavily shaded by larger plants are also not good locations; you want an open, bright but shady area
- The soil should be loose and crumbly. Do not plant in heavy clay soil, or in dry sandy soil. A well-structured loam amended with compost is recommended
- The roots should always stay damp, but never wet. Waterlogged soil will cause rot. A thin layer (1”) of mulch will help to keep the soil cool and moist in summer and keep winter soil temperatures stable. Pull the mulch back from the base of the stems to avoid stem rot, especially in rainy weather
- Fertilizer is needed during the vegetative growth phase, from early spring until flowering time. Fertilize as you would other perennials, with 15-30-15, 20-20-20 or something similar. Slow-release fertilizer works well and can be applied as soon as the ground is workable
- Once you have large clumps with more than 25 stems or so, they should be divided in fall. The older clumps get, the more susceptible they become to disease
Planting Instructions
- Choose a permanent location, as they do not like to be disturbed
- Remove the plant from the container and shake off the potting soil. Gently spread the roots horizontally and plant in the top 4 inches of the soil, at the same level the plant was at in the pot
- Do not compress the soil at all. It is very important the soil remains loose. Sprinkle the soil over the roots and mound it slightly above the surrounding grade, then water it in to allow it to settle. Add more soil if necessary, to bring it up to grade
- Apply mulch around the plant, if desired
- Check daily for moisture until you have a feel for how quickly the soil dries out
Varieties Available
We expect to have the following varieties available in spring 2026. Plants are available in limited quantities and sell out quickly. Please phone the perennials department at 780-467-7557 on or after April 18 to be put on the wait list. Customers will be contacted and offered plants they have requested on a first come, first served basis. Unfortunately, we do not ship plant material.
PLEASE NOTE: These plants are variable and may not flower exactly as shown. We will not refund or exchange plants that do not flower out identical to the photo. The same plant may bloom differently from year to year or even week to week depending on the weather.
‘Birgit Pastel' (Cypripedium macranthos f. albiflorum x C. cordigerum)
- Dainty shoe-shaped white blooms.
- Variable; flowers may have small amounts of faint pink colouration.
- Robust and vigorous hybrid.
- Ht. 30-40cm (12-16 in.) Sp. 30-45cm (12-18 in.) Zone 3
'Eurasia' (Cypripedium macranthos x C. tibeticum)
- Large, intense fuchsia to purplish flowers; variable.
- Tends to be slower to multiply than other varieties.
- Requires sharply-drained soil; particularly sensitive to rot.
- Ht. 15-45cm (6-18 in.) Sp. 20-30cm (8-12 in.) Zone 3
'Frosch's Alaskan Beauty' (Cypripedium guttatum x C. yatabeanum)
- A selected superior clone of the naturally occurring hybrid ‘Alaskanum’, propagated by tissue culture.
- Bucket-shaped flowers with a white background, overlaid with brownish red blotches.
- A dwarf with stoloniferous growth habit; plants form a low mat over time.
- Ht. 10-15cm (4-6 in.) Sp. 30-60cm (12-24 in.) Zone 2
'Frosch's Queen of the Mist' (Cypripedium macranthos f. albiflorum x C. calceolus)
- A selected superior clone of ‘Ventricosum Pastel’, propagated by tissue culture so all offspring are identical to the parent.
- Pristine white flowers with a hint of green in the centre.
- A robust and vigorous hybrid that often produces 2 flowers per stem.
- Ht. 30-45cm (12-18 in.) Sp. 30-45cm (12-18 in.) Zone 3
'Frosch's Ulla Freckles' (Cypripedium flavum x C. reginae)
- A selected clone of ‘Ulla Silkens’, which has been propagated by tissue culture so all offspring are identical to the parent.
- This clone was selected for exceptional and consistent spotting on the pouch.
- Robust, easily grown plants bloom a little later than other varieties.
- Ht. 30-60cm (12-24 in.) Sp. 30-45cm (12-18 in.) Zone 3
'Karo' (Brown Form) (Cypripedium Alaskanum x C. yatabeanum)
- Rarely offered back-cross of the naturally occurring hybrid ‘Alaskanum’ onto the C. yatabeanum parent.
- Flowers more resemble C. yatabeanum, with brown blotches over a white background.
- A dwarf with stoloniferous growth habit; plants form a low mat over time.
- Ht. 10-15cm (4-6 in.) Sp. 30-60cm (12-24 in.) Zone 2
'Memoria Holger Perner' (Cypripedium fasciolatum x C. cordigerum)
- Named in honour of the late botanist and nurseryman who made huge contributions to the modern understanding of the biology and cultivation of Cypripediums.
- Large white and green blooms with reddish spotting on the petals; variable.
- Requires perfect soil drainage.
- Ht. 30-40cm (12-16 in.) Sp. 30cm (12 in.) Zone 4
'Michael Pastel' (Cypripedium macranthos f. albiflorum x C. henryi)
- White and green flowers which may have faint amounts of pink; variable.
- Often produces 2 flowers, and rarely 3 flowers per stem.
- Robust and vigorous hybrid.
- Ht. 30-40cm (12-16 in.) Sp. 30-40cm (12-16 in.) Zone 3
'Philipp' (Dark Form) (Cypripedium macranthos x C. kentuckiense)
- Very large flowers have a creamy base colour, heavily overlaid, spotted, and suffused with deep fuchsia-purple; variable but darker than image shown.
- Slower growing hybrid that does not form large clumps as readily as others.
- Easy to grow.
- Ht. 30-60cm (12-24 in.) Sp. 30-45cm (12-18 in.) Zone 3
'Sabine' (Cypripedium fasciolatum x C. macranthos)
- Large blooms have a whitish base colour, heavily blushed and overlaid with pink; variable.
- Slower growing hybrid that does not multiply as quickly as others.
- Easy to grow.
- Ht. 20-30cm (8-12 in.) Sp. 30cm (12 in.) Zone 3
'Ventricosum Pastel' (Cypripedium calceolus x C. macranthos f. albiflorum)
- Predominantly white flowers with a variable amount of soft pink colouration.
- Often produces 2 flowers per stem.
- One of the most vigorous and easily grown hybrids.
- Ht. 30-45cm (12-18 in.) Sp. 30-45cm (12-18 in.) Zone 3
'Victoria' (Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens x C. fasciolatum)
- Large and variable blooms with a buttery yellow pouch and brown-streaked tepals.
- May produce 2 flowers per stem.
- A particularly robust hybrid.
- Ht. 30-45cm (12-18 in.) Sp. 30cm (12 in.) Zone 3
Kentucky Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium kentuckiense)
- The largest flowered species with huge, bucket-shaped blooms that appear a little later than other varieties.
- Creamy yellow to white flowers with purplish brown tepals.
- Sandy, humus-rich soil is recommended.
- Ht. 30-60cm (12-24 in.) Sp. 30-60cm (12-24 in.) Zone 3