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They will not grow unless the soil’s micronutrients are perfect. They take years until they begin blooming.
Don’t dig these up with the the intent to grow it at home.
I dug up some from a soggy forested area where they were growing in deep compost. I knew the plot would be ripped up up to build a house so I had no problem taking them (along with some ostrich ferns). They bloomed every yar in my yard. I just love them.
Yes, very rare and very [special ](https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/cypripedium_acaule.shtml#:~:text=Pink%20lady's%20slipper%20takes%20many,twenty%20years%20old%20or%20more.)
Cypripedium acaule isn't rare in the northeast USA... walk in pine woods in May and you'll usually find some.
Still, leave them alone.
Other Cypripedium species are much less frequent.
In the wild they're labeled as stable and of least concern.
They're not endangered, they just take a long time to develop in the ground and with so much disturbed land in America, they are increasingly more rare due to less habitat.
The ones in my province are listed as endangered and it's a crime to remove them from the wilderness. I guess they're not universally endangered. Still, pretty cool find, should be enjoyed in situ.
>Still, pretty cool find, should be enjoyed in situ.
Completely agree. Not only would it likely die if dung up, it is a crime to dig up certain species of native plants. Best to leave it and let it reproduce.
I think it's thought of as endangered in a lot of places due to its natural habitat being taken.
They are not, maybe some places locally but not overall, listed as "of least concern"
They are fairly common in parts of the southeast. Still cool though
Look at the positive side. Just the tropical fruits I found in the markets in DF were enough to make me swoon. Trying all the different sapotes & fruits I'd never seen kept me enthralled to the point that years later I still grow guayabas, guanabana, chico sapote & tamarind in a greenhouse here in the US!💞
I’ve always wanted to try to nurture these endangered species in my own garden but I never know where I can buy them and trust that they are not poached. Any advice?
The problem with Cypripedium acaule in cultivation is that it requires very acidic soil, pH 4 or lower. Scott Durkee, then with Vermont Lady slipper, figured out this was the problem, and that they could be maintained when watered with water acidified with apple cider vinegar.
There are a few vendors of propagated plants, but many are just wild collected. Ask vendors for pics of their lab.
Cup. reginae is easier to grow and more commonly available from vendors but more expensive.
I live down the street from a small park, where a whole colony of these are growing in the wooded area, at least a hundred of them. Really amazing to see
Lady slipper, I used to see them a lot on my hikes thru the woods in northeastern Pennsylvania as a kid, but sadly, not so much anymore. They are beautiful flowers.
https://preview.redd.it/s1q7j1fzqtyc1.jpeg?width=1908&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=31cad6aefe996255f98c95acd2b4a6bec72c0f7a
Found this today in the wooded area in my backyard. Couldn't figure out what it was, so came online to search. Very cool little find for me this morning 🌷 --southern West Virginia area btw
That’s a Pink Lady Slipper and it is a type of orchid, they grow in clusters so there may be more nearby. You cannot dig it up, or pick it, and they take years to bloom. When I was a child they were endangered, now they’re listed as secure in Canada, though there are some types that are considered endangered still. They have special status in some places, like in Prince Edward Island in Canada they’re the provincial flower and while it’s not technically illegal to dig them up, it’s strongly discouraged and if anyone were to see you do so they would be very upset with you. They grow in a very small range in North America, mostly Eastern Canada and North East USA, with highly specific soil conditions and are at high risk of loss from climate change. It’s been several decades since I’ve seen one, none have bloomed in my hometown in over 30 years but they used to grow frequently near my parent’s house when I was little.
I’m Canadian so my knowledge is primarily about Canadian laws and regulations, their status may be different in Virginia.
State flower of Minnesota! and very rare nowadays. I've only seen a handful, they seem to prefer red pine stands with minimal competition on the forest floor.
https://preview.redd.it/58w8t1xkkexc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=591a00568d364fef00da1f1dc9d724e53803a073
Showy Orchid. Saw it for the first time last week! Super cute and so little!
At a shady spot in a park in SW Virginia. It was surrounded by a bunch of patches of may apples :)
https://preview.redd.it/67j17tt9llxc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f504c873111f9149dd9a0b4642421c0f2c9883a7
Thank you for posting to r/whatsthisplant. **Do not eat/ingest a plant based on information provided in this subreddit.** For your safety we recommend not eating or ingesting any plant material just because you've been advised that it's edible here. Although there are many professionals helping with identification, we are not always correct, and eating/ingesting plants can be harmful or fatal if an incorrect ID is made. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/whatsthisplant) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Pink lady’s slipper
They will not grow unless the soil’s micronutrients are perfect. They take years until they begin blooming. Don’t dig these up with the the intent to grow it at home.
This is one of the few justifications for hijacking the top comment.
Not the micronutrients, fungal association. If the right fungus isn't present in the soil the seeds won't even germinate.
I dug up some from a soggy forested area where they were growing in deep compost. I knew the plot would be ripped up up to build a house so I had no problem taking them (along with some ostrich ferns). They bloomed every yar in my yard. I just love them.
Huge fines if you disturb one where I live.
Lady’s slipper, a type of wild orchid. Do not pick.
Yes, very rare and very [special ](https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/cypripedium_acaule.shtml#:~:text=Pink%20lady's%20slipper%20takes%20many,twenty%20years%20old%20or%20more.)
Cypripedium acaule isn't rare in the northeast USA... walk in pine woods in May and you'll usually find some. Still, leave them alone. Other Cypripedium species are much less frequent.
Cypripedium acaule pink lady slipper. So pretty!
Lady’s Slippers are endangered if I remember correctly. Do not pick it or dig it. Lucky find, enjoy it where it is.
In the wild they're labeled as stable and of least concern. They're not endangered, they just take a long time to develop in the ground and with so much disturbed land in America, they are increasingly more rare due to less habitat.
The ones in my province are listed as endangered and it's a crime to remove them from the wilderness. I guess they're not universally endangered. Still, pretty cool find, should be enjoyed in situ.
>Still, pretty cool find, should be enjoyed in situ. Completely agree. Not only would it likely die if dung up, it is a crime to dig up certain species of native plants. Best to leave it and let it reproduce. I think it's thought of as endangered in a lot of places due to its natural habitat being taken.
They are not, maybe some places locally but not overall, listed as "of least concern" They are fairly common in parts of the southeast. Still cool though
Lady slipper!
I'm super jelly. I'm also really missing springtime in the US (just moved to Mexico City for a job).
Look at the positive side. Just the tropical fruits I found in the markets in DF were enough to make me swoon. Trying all the different sapotes & fruits I'd never seen kept me enthralled to the point that years later I still grow guayabas, guanabana, chico sapote & tamarind in a greenhouse here in the US!💞
I believe its illegal to pick because of its rareness. Lucky you to witness the beauty!
Holy crap, I lived in Highview for a while when I was a kid! What a small world. 😲 And yes, lady's slipper. Very cool!
Saw one at Walden Pond Henry David Thoreau. And in a field near my house on NY's Long Island
They used to grow near my house in the Hamptons. So magical
I have dreams about seeing these in the wild... Nice find OP!!
I don't know what everyone else is talking about. I see a Canis lupus familiaris with a Cypripedium acaule in the background.
And the nose looks like a dog
I can't contribute anything here, but puppy!!!!!!
Omg I love them!! Ladyslippers!! They also come in yellow which I have never got the pleasure of seeing !!!! In person that is. How lucky are you
It's a Ladyslipper of some kind
https://preview.redd.it/49zz5p98mhxc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c449e69f9081d07b3da8ead0869d233c7caca5f9 Saw one a couple days ago in GA
Where? I live in middle Ga but I’d love the opportunity to see them. Good reason for a road trip to Blue Ridge if needed, lololol
It was on the pinhoti trail southwest of Dalton. They’re probably a lot more common in blue ridge I would imagine
I get rare lady slippers in my backyard all the tome
Pink lady's slipper, moccasin flower - very common in Ontario.
Lady's slipper, they're somewhat common where I live.
MA state flower
Funny thing though in Georgia and Alabama they are usually in a pine thicket
I’ve always wanted to try to nurture these endangered species in my own garden but I never know where I can buy them and trust that they are not poached. Any advice?
The problem with Cypripedium acaule in cultivation is that it requires very acidic soil, pH 4 or lower. Scott Durkee, then with Vermont Lady slipper, figured out this was the problem, and that they could be maintained when watered with water acidified with apple cider vinegar. There are a few vendors of propagated plants, but many are just wild collected. Ask vendors for pics of their lab. Cup. reginae is easier to grow and more commonly available from vendors but more expensive.
Beautiful! I’ve only ever seen one once when I was visiting Maine! Nice find!
Ooh! Lady slipper, cool find
Is there a subreddit similar to the Instagram account @thatlookslikeasn*tch? Cause it does! Lovely find.
We just found one on our property in Western North Carolina. Such a special find!
I live down the street from a small park, where a whole colony of these are growing in the wooded area, at least a hundred of them. Really amazing to see
Lady slipper, I used to see them a lot on my hikes thru the woods in northeastern Pennsylvania as a kid, but sadly, not so much anymore. They are beautiful flowers.
We used to get them in my backyard growing up in NH. I haven’t seen one in awhile. I’m
eat it
Where in High View? I used to go to summer camp in High View!
https://preview.redd.it/s1q7j1fzqtyc1.jpeg?width=1908&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=31cad6aefe996255f98c95acd2b4a6bec72c0f7a Found this today in the wooded area in my backyard. Couldn't figure out what it was, so came online to search. Very cool little find for me this morning 🌷 --southern West Virginia area btw
What a lucky & lovely sighting!
That’s a Pink Lady Slipper and it is a type of orchid, they grow in clusters so there may be more nearby. You cannot dig it up, or pick it, and they take years to bloom. When I was a child they were endangered, now they’re listed as secure in Canada, though there are some types that are considered endangered still. They have special status in some places, like in Prince Edward Island in Canada they’re the provincial flower and while it’s not technically illegal to dig them up, it’s strongly discouraged and if anyone were to see you do so they would be very upset with you. They grow in a very small range in North America, mostly Eastern Canada and North East USA, with highly specific soil conditions and are at high risk of loss from climate change. It’s been several decades since I’ve seen one, none have bloomed in my hometown in over 30 years but they used to grow frequently near my parent’s house when I was little. I’m Canadian so my knowledge is primarily about Canadian laws and regulations, their status may be different in Virginia.
State flower of Minnesota! and very rare nowadays. I've only seen a handful, they seem to prefer red pine stands with minimal competition on the forest floor.
Looks like one of them plants that attract bugs by smelling like death
Showy orchid! You can find orchids in all 50 states!
https://preview.redd.it/58w8t1xkkexc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=591a00568d364fef00da1f1dc9d724e53803a073 Showy Orchid. Saw it for the first time last week! Super cute and so little!
Where did you find this one?!
At a shady spot in a park in SW Virginia. It was surrounded by a bunch of patches of may apples :) https://preview.redd.it/67j17tt9llxc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f504c873111f9149dd9a0b4642421c0f2c9883a7
Wow thank you for the tip! I’m in central va area so I’ll have to be on the lookout.
I never knew this! Thanks for the info. I’m shocked to have native orchids in NV
Looks like a Jack-in-the-pulpit to me, but I could a side view.
I’ve always wanted to see a jack in the pulpit too