The Lovely Lady’s Slipper

WITH THEIR DELICATE FLOWERS’ close resemblance to dainty, ornate footwear, lady’s slipper orchids (Cypripedium spp.) are undeniably beautiful. Named after the island of Cyprus, Cypripedium has a romantic origin, referring to where Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, was born. The suffix “pedium” likely comes from the Greek word pedilon, meaning “shoe” — with a bit of imagination, “lady’s slipper.”

Perhaps you’ve seen them while hiking through a wooded area or mountainous region. These small, ground-hugging, clump-forming orchids can be difficult to spot except during their bloom time between April and mid-June, when the drifts of flowers are absolutely show-stopping. The blooms — which range in color from yellow to cream to pink — each sport a “slipper” formed from modified petals (called “labella”) and three long, twisted sepals, which are usually not