Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Orchidaceae

Genus:

Cypripedium

Species:

Cypripedium californicum

USDA Symbol:

CYCA4

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Epiphyte

Height:

120 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

apr,may,jun,jul

Bloom Colors:

white, yellow, pink

Garden & Ecology Notes

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

prefers habitats near streams or wet areas

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 90–120 days

Notes:

Requires mycorrhizal symbiosis for germination and establishment; extremely difficult to germinate from seed without specialized laboratory conditions.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI