# mountain lady's-slipper (*Cypripedium montanum*) The mountain lady's-slipper is a beautiful flower that looks like a lady's shoe! It grows in the wild and has soft, pink petals. This flower is special because it only blooms in certain places, making it a treasure to find. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![mountain lady's-slipper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cypripedium-montanum2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cypripedium-montanum2.jpg) ## Appearance The mountain lady's-slipper has a distinctive, slipper-shaped pouch that is usually creamy white, sometimes tinged with pink or purple. Its two long, twisted lateral petals and sepals are typically slender and can range from greenish-yellow to maroon, adding to its unique forest charm. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Asparagales - **Family:** Orchidaceae - **Genus:** Cypripedium ## Interesting facts - It can take over 10 years for a mountain lady's-slipper plant to produce its first flower! - Its unique flower shape helps tiny bees enter but makes exiting a fun challenge! - Many people call these flowers "fairy slippers" because of their delicate, magical look. - Some parts of this orchid have been used in traditional medicine for calm and sleep. ## Special abilities - **Insect Snare:** The mountain lady's-slipper can trap insects inside its slipper-shaped pouch, guiding them past pollen to ensure successful pollination. - **Fungal Friendship:** Mountain lady's-slipper seeds depend on special fungi to germinate and grow, forming an essential underground partnership. - **Slow & Steady Life:** This plant has an amazing ability to live for many decades, growing slowly in its cool forest home. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 20-70 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to mid-summer (May-July) - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Two-form Bumblebee (*Bombus bifarius*) — Visits flowers, collecting pollen while helping pollination. - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Deer browse on young plants and leaves, especially in meadows. - **Symbiotic with:** Orchid Mycorrhizal Fungus (*Tulasnella calospora*) — Crucial for seed germination and nutrient uptake by orchid roots. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Threatened](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/threatened): Threatened status denotes a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future without effective conservation interventions. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not pick the flowers; they need to stay in nature to grow. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify mountain lady's-slipper? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is mountain lady's-slipper? 20-70 cm ### How wide does mountain lady's-slipper spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on mountain lady's-slipper? 2-4 cm ### When does mountain lady's-slipper bloom? Late spring to mid-summer (May-July) ### Is mountain lady's-slipper edible? No ### Is mountain lady's-slipper toxic? None ### What is mountain lady's-slipper's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Headquarters Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/headquarters-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Kishenehn Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kishenehn-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Nyack Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nyack-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Browne Lake Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/browne-lake-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see mountain lady's-slipper](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/mountain-ladys-slipper) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Mountain Lady's-slipper: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mountain-ladys-slipper)