Cypripedium acaule is the most common wild lady slipper seen in the US, and is found in bogs as well as very dry pine forests, sometimes in colonies that number in the tens of thousands. A colleague, on seeing a photo in my office asked, "Is that a pink ladyslipper?" When I replied that it was, he responded, "I hate those things! My lawn gets covered with them each May and they make such a mess when I mow them."... :roll: My favorite stand is in People's Forest in NW Connecticut. This is one of only a few remaining stands of virgin forest in the entire Eastern US. It contains more than 50 endangered wildflowers and more than 200 rare wildflowers. In this forest of White Pines, pink ladyslippers carpet the forest floor in late May and early June. One would think that this highly tolerant species would be an easy one to culture - in fact Cyp acaule is considered one of the most difficult species, many people consider them nearly impossible. The flower in the photo is growing in a pot and must be watered with dilute vinegar - yes that is true! The common thread in the seemingly disparate habitats in which this species grows is rather intense acidity. If the pH rises above about 4.5, the plants are immediately attacked by fungi and quickly die. A few culturists manage to keep the species going in pots by planting in "pine duff" which usually has a pH of 3.5 - 4 and watering with distilled water.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y100/fundulopanchax/Cypripedium/Cypripediumacaule16May2004.jpg

Ron Burch

What a beautiful photograph! We are getting quite an education from you! Keep it coming, please! :joy:

What a beautiful photograph! We are getting quite an education from you! Keep it coming, please! :joy:

Ditto!

It may be the most common, but I think its my favorite native Cyp. I found some big patches in North Carolina, near Ashville. They were in bare areas between hemlocks and rhododendendrons. Good indications of acid soil.

Yes, thanks for the education Ron. There are suppose to be natives orchids all around us here in SW Ohio, within a 2 or 3 hour drive. I am planning a few hiking trips for around May to Hocking Hills and some in Kentucky in hopes of seeing a few ladyslippers.