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.
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 Malmgrem 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 and photographs supplied by Giorgio Pozzi.
Cypripedium 'Axel' (C. parviflorum x C. tibeticum; produced by S.Malmgrem 1998)
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.
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.
A link to USDA description page.
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens syn. Cypripedium pubescens
Cypripedium plectrochilon 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).
Cypripedium smithii syn. Cypripedium calcicolum
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
Return to the PBS wiki Photographs And Information page