# pink lady's slipper (*Cypripedium acaule*) The pink lady's slipper is a beautiful flower that looks like a little shoe! It has soft pink petals and grows in shady places. This special flower is a treat for the eyes in the forest. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 206 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Moccasin Flower ![pink lady's slipper](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cypripedium_acaule_-_Sasata_edit1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Sasata (edited by Noodle snacks, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cypripedium_acaule_-_Sasata_edit1.jpg) ## Appearance The pink lady's slipper has a striking, puffy pouch-like flower, typically rosy pink with darker veins, resembling a small shoe. Its two large, broad green leaves grow flat at the base, with a single leafless stem rising to hold the solitary bloom. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Asparagales - **Family:** Orchidaceae - **Genus:** Cypripedium ## Interesting facts - Growing one from seed in a garden is almost impossible! - It's an orchid! There are over 28,000 kinds of orchids in the world. - Its roots can spread far and wide, helping it find new resources. - Some lady's slippers are purple, white, or even yellow, not just pink! ## Special abilities - **Fungal Food Factory:** Its tiny seeds rely on a specific fungus in the soil to provide essential nutrients, allowing them to grow. - **Secret Sprouter:** pink lady's slipper can stay dormant underground for years, waiting for perfect conditions before emerging to bloom. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-40 cm - **Spread:** 10-20 cm - **Flower Size:** 4-8 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Trapped inside to pick up pollen. - **Symbiotic with:** Fungus (*Tulasnella calospora*) — Provides nutrients for seed growth. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer browse the leaves and flowers. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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. - [Symbiotic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/symbiotic): Describes a relationship between two different species where they live in close association, often benefiting one or both. - [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. - [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 Look but don't touch! These flowers are special and should be enjoyed from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify pink 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 pink lady's slipper? 15-40 cm ### How wide does pink lady's slipper spread? 10-20 cm ### How big are the flowers on pink lady's slipper? 4-8 cm ### When does pink lady's slipper bloom? Spring to early summer ### Is pink lady's slipper edible? No ### Is pink lady's slipper toxic? Mild ### What is pink lady's slipper's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Albany Pine Bush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albany-pine-bush) — New York, US · Nature Reserve - [Bear Swamp](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bear-swamp) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Belltown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/belltown-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Camp Evans](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/camp-evans) — New Jersey, US · Historic Site - [Canton Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/canton-center-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Charlestown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/charlestown-historic-district) — Maryland, US · Historic District [View all places to see pink lady's slipper](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/pink-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: [Pink Lady's Slipper: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pink-ladys-slipper)