Summary
Kentucky lady’s slipper, with its unique pouch-like flower shape, is among the finest specimen plants for the garden. This herbaceous perennial orchid performs best in well-drained, organic, slightly alkaline soil in part shade and can form sizable multi-stemmed clumps. Its attractive, soft, fuzzy leaves are the perfect complement to the striking soft yellow to nearly white irregular flowers borne on tall flowering stalks nearly 2′ tall. Cypripedium kentuckiense stands out beautifully when combined with Geum fragarioides, Tiarella cordifolia, Enemion biternatum, Prosartes lanuginosum, Dicentra eximia, Iris cristata, Trillium cuneatum, Asarum canadense, and Thalictrum dioicum.
More Details
- Plant Type
perennial - Sun/Shade Conditions
filtered-shade, partial-shade - Foliage Character
deciduous - Soil Moisture
average, moist - Flowering Period
late-spring - Soil PH
adaptable, alkaline - Flower Color
white, yellow - Summer Foliage Color
green - Fall Foliage Color
dormant, yellow - Other Common Names
ivory lady's-slipper - Fruit/Seed Color
brown
Additional Information
USDA Plants Database, Center for Plant Conservation, Flora of North America