Ontario Wildflowers website

Showy Lady's Slipper
Cypripedium reginae

Other common names: Queen Lady's Slipper

Other scientific names: Cypripedium album, Cypripedium spectabile

French names: Cypripède royal

Family: Orchid Family (Orchidaceae)

Group: Orchids, Lady's Slippers

Similar species:
  •   Pink Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium acaule) - flower pink, with a dent up the middle front.


Flowers: Summer;  White, Red/Pink;  Irregular flowers

Height: 20-45 cm (8-18 in)

Habitat: Wet Areas

Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 38    Peterson's Field Guide to Wildflowers: 14, 212    ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario: 89   

Native/Non-native: Native

Status: Uncommon.

Notes: When you find this orchid, do not disturb it. DO NOT transplant it - it will not survive. This orchid is disappearing in the wild partly due to misguided attempts to transplant it, also due to habitat loss and intrusion by people who want to view these beautiful flowers.

Photographs: 740 photographs available, of which 14 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae)

The spectacular flower of the Showy Lady's Slipper orchid.

Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae)

Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae)

Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae)

Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae)

Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae)

Sometimes there are two flowers on one plant.

Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae)

Occasionally the flowers are white or almost white. This particular has a spider hiding under the upper lip (just out of view). It has caught a small butterfly who unwittingly visited the flower.

Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae)

Another pair of white flowers.

Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae)

A wilting flower.

Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae)

Seed capsule in mid-August.

Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae)

Flower bud, just starting to open.

Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae)

Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae)

Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae)

Last year's seed capsule. Showy Lady's Slipper, like other Lady's Slippers orchids, don't come up every year.


Range map for Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae)

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)