Lady Slipper Plant 'Showy'

SOLD OUT - Ships in SPRING 2024!

Showy Lady Slipper - Bare Root Plant - Large Size

Cypripedium reginae

H : 30-45 cm (12-18 in) Z : 3-6 pH : 5-6 Blooming: May to June

Ships As: 1 Perennial Bareroot Plant #1 Grade - Near or at Blooming Maturity 

Showy lady’s slipper is one of the most beautiful and rare flowers. It’s one of the largest orchids, a perennial wildflower reaching more than 3 feet in height and bearing 1, 2, or perhaps 3 flowers per stem. 

Planting and Growing Tips for Lady Slipper Orchids Cypripediums Please take the time and care necessary to plant your lady slipper orchids. When properly planted and cared for, the plants will not only grow well but thrive. Your Lady Slippers are arriving as a bareroot plant. They may have foliage and it may die back. This is normal, the plant has not died. Please plant immediately upon arrival as they need to get acclimated for next season. They have already formed their new root balls. Please follow instructions for optimal success. Planting: Do not expose roots to direct sunlight or drying winds; doing so can be fatal to your plants. Lady Slippers should be planted with their buds/root balls just below the surface (1/2 inch) and a layer of mulch 1 to 2 inches deep should be put over the top. They should be planted with their roots spread out in the top four inches of the soil. Their roots tend to grow horizontally and only go deeper in dry conditions. Light: Morning or evening sun is okay, but plants should be shaded midday. High, open shade or the shade of the north side of a building will work very well. Soil: The soil should be evenly moist but well-drained with lime added. Depending on the soil you are starting with, you may want to augment it. If your soil is heavy clay you will want to loosen it up by adding river sand or humus, compost. If, on the other hand, your soil is a dry, open, sandy type, you would want to add loam or humus. At the farm, we grow our lady slippers in a mix of one-half course and one half loamy, compost type soil with about ¼ cup of lime mixed in. Mulch: A layer of mulch is very important. You can use bark, or bark with pine needles on top. It will keep the soil cool and evenly moist. The soil should not be allowed to dry out completely, especially during the first year, as plants are getting established. Once the ground has started to freeze, we recommend adding a layer of straw or pine boughs to provide additional winter protection. Fertilizer: When planted in a good, rich soil, fertilizer is not necessary. If you want to fertilize apply only a 1/4 strength liquid fertilizer every 7-10 days from Spring through mid-August. A yearly dusting of lime is always helpful. Watering: Please resist the urge to over-water! These plants like an evenly moist soil and should be watered only through dry periods, such as late summer or lightly misted. Like most other perennials, they should never be allowed to completely dry out. Thank You for Your Order and Enjoy Your Lady Slippers! Please Be Patient! As always, if you have any questions, please just shoot us an e-mail or call us toll-free and one of our experts will be happy to answer your questions!