Fairy Slipper
Calypso bulbosa
- Native to:
- Aleutian Is., Baltic States, Canada, China, Finland, Japan, Korea, Prince Edward I., Russia, Sweden, United States
Walter Siegmund (talk)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Orchidaceae
- Genus:
- Calypso
- Species:
- Calypso bulbosa
- USDA Symbol:
- CABU
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 20 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, purple, white
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bumblebees
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers undisturbed forest floors with organic matter
Propagation & Germination
- Notes:
- Orchid seeds require mycorrhizal fungi for germination; extremely difficult to propagate from seed without laboratory conditions.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 90 days.
Notes: Seeds require cold stratification followed by warm temperatures for germination.
Source: Claude AI