Posted May 13, 2020

Written by Kyla Isakson

The pink lady’s slipper (Cypripedium acaule) is a perennial, flowering plant in the Orchid family. This species is native to the eastern U.S. and most of Canada. Pink lady’s slippers typically flower from late April until July, and they produce flowers that range in color from whitish-pink to magenta. These plants rely on a few other organisms in order to survive. On their roots, pink lady’s slippers form a symbiotic relationship with fungi; at the flower, pink lady’s slippers depend on bees to help them pollinate and increase their geographic range. 

Pink lady’s slippers should NOT be picked. Their leaves have small glandular hairs on them that cause skin irritation, producing a rash similar to that caused by poison ivy. If you find one, please practice Leave No Trace principles. Do not pick these flowers; the only thing you should take is a picture.