Cypripedium is a genus of terrestrial orchids (Orchidaceae family), most of them perfectly hardy, which can be found growing in nature in different areas: America, Europe, and Asia. Original species are found as well as many hybrids, due to easy cross pollination. Cypripedium reginae is from North America; C. calceolus (similar to the American C. parviflorum) is native to Europe; C. tibeticum, C. japonicum and many others are from Asia.
They usually are grown from seeds in vitro, in sterile conditions, and begin their flowering stage after five/six year from sowing. Some people may grow from seeds just spreading the content of the mature capsules on the soil near mother plants as these live and thrive with humus rich in organic components. Seeds and adult plants of cyprepidiums are often mycorrhizal with soil fungi and thus difficult to grow certain species out of habitat.
Shady position but good light, wet conditions but good drainage, are the secrets to obtaining healthy and fine plants with rich roots. Soon it is possible to split the clump and obtain new specimens. This is the way to test if a different position will improve the growth and to save the plant from possible attack from enemies, fungus especially which kill old and crowded plants.
The excellent monograph The Genus Cypripedium by Dr. Phillip Cribb (Timber Press, 1997) is undoubtedly the best introduction to hardy lady’s slipper orchids.
Svante Malmgren in Sweden is an expert grower of many species, here is a link to his site recently renewed with many photos and information; he will also help with advice for those who love to grow from seeds. Another hybridizer who has had fine plants since the late nineties, is Michael Weinert (Germany), who owns Cypripedium nursery Frosch®Exklusivstauden
Information supplied by Giorgio Pozzi.
Cypripedium 'Axel' (Cypripedium parviflorum x Cypripedium tibeticum produced by S.Malmgren 1998). Photo by Giorgio Pozzi.
Cypripedium calceolus is native to the European Alps. Here in Italy they grow wild at 1000/1800 mts. of altitude and are difficult to find as they are rare and even if protected by Cites many specimens are lost as the woods are now abandoned and lawns near the woods have plenty of invasive grasses.The first picture of a plant in ground full shade position, the second from a flower in pot. Photos from Giorgio Pozzi.
Cypripedium californicum is a species native to mountainous areas of northern California and southern Oregon, USA. It occurs in areas with constant moisture such as stream-banks or serpentine seeps. The plant can reach up to 120cm (47") tall and produces 3-12 flowers from May to July. It is a difficult species to cultivate outside of habitat. The photo below was contributed by the UC Botanical Garden of a specimen growing in the California section of the garden.
Cypripedium guttatum is known by the common name of Spotted Lady's Slipper. This is a medium sized species distributed in Northern Canada, Alaska, Russia to Korea, in cold areas. The first pictures is of the flower of a young plant. The rhizome with one bud in November just after dividing and cleaning before replanting is shown in the second photo; note the " spaghetti " shape of the roots. Photos from Giorgio Pozzi. A link to USDA description page.
Cypripedium japonicum is found in wet areas of cool mountain forests at 1000 to 2000m in Japan. It is also found in Korea and China. The Japanese name is 'Kumagai-Sou'. Photographs taken in Japan by Mari Kitama.
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens syn. Cypripedium pubescens is a North American species. Photo from Giorgio Pozzi.
Cypripedium plectrochilum is a very small species; when mature the plant is about 13/15 cm. tall. The flower is 1.5 cm. This species is native to Yunnan (China). Photos from Giorgio Pozzi.
Cypripedium reginae Also named the Queen's Lady's Slipper this is a tall plant, native in North America, easy to be grown in home garden in a flowerbed with light wet soil in shady position .When the plant is mature, it forms multiple stems of 2 to 3 feet each with 1 to 3 flowers per stem. Here a link to US Forest service. Photo from Giorgio Pozzi.
Cypripedium smithii syn. Cypripedium calcicolum This species is from China. Kew considers C. calcicolum to be the accepted name. Photo from Giorgio Pozzi.
Cypripedium 'Ulla Silkens' ( C. reginae x C. flavum ) These words from Peter Corkhill member of Royal Horticultural Society well introduce this hybrid: " The first hybrid I tried in the open garden was C. Ulla Silkens (Malmgren 1996), produced in Sweden by Svante Malmgren and named after his wife. This cross between North American C. reginae and Chinese C. flavum is a must for the beginner and produces strong, multi-stemmed clumps which often flower five years ex-flask. The flowers come in two main colour forms - pale lilac with multiple spots and a darker form reminiscent of the C. reginae parent but always displaying the delightful curled-back lateral sepals of C. flavum." These words were taken from a RHS article entitled Growing Cypripedium outdoors in Britain no longer available online. The RHS document Hardy lady’s slipper orchids for the garden by Michael Weinert may be a replacement. Photos from Giorgio Pozzi.
