Ontario Wildflowers website

Small Yellow Lady's Slipper
Cypripedium parviflorum var makasin

Small Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var makasin) Other common names: Lesser Yellow Lady's Slipper, Smaller Yellow Lady's Slipper

Family: Orchid Family (Orchidaceae)

Group: Orchids, Lady's Slippers

Distinctive features: Lady's Slipper flower form, bright yellow.

Similar species:
  •   Large Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var pubescens) - Larger; greenish petals behind the "slipper".

  •   Small White Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium candidum) - White flowers; also has greenish petals.

  •   Hybrid Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum X C. candidum) - White flowers; purplish petals.


Flowers: Spring;  Yellow;  Irregular flowers;  Bright yellow, pouch shape. Petals (behind the "slipper") are reddish (Large Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var pubescens) has green petals). Late spring - early summer.

Height: 15-40 cm (6-16 in)

Habitat: Fields and Open Areas, Wet Areas;  Moist woods, bogs.

Grows in Sun/Shade: Sun

Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 38   

Native/Non-native: Native

Status: Uncommon, but common compared to other Lady's Slipper orchids. But in some places it is extremely common.

Notes: There are two varieties of this orchid: Small Yellow Lady's Slipper and Large Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var pubescens). When you find this orchid, do not disturb it. DO NOT transplant it - it will likely not survive.

Photographs: 110 photographs available, of which 9 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Small Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var makasin) plant

Small Yellow Lady's Slipper. The petals (those twisted "rays" behind the main flower) are reddish or blackish. This variety grows in boggy areas.

Small Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var makasin) plants

Small Yellow Lady's Slipper plants.

Small Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var makasin) flowers

Small Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var makasin) flower

Small Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var makasin) flower

Closeup of a Small Yellow Lady's Slipper flower.

Small Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var makasin) plant

A view of the whole plant.

Small Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var makasin) plant

View from the rear.

Small Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var makasin) flower bud

Flower bud.

Small Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var makasin) seed capsule

Seed capsule from the previous year. This photo was taken in January. (I don't know which variety of Yellow Lady's Slipper this is, but they both look the same at that time of year!).


Range map for Small Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var makasin)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)