Does anyone know which Cypripedium species are native to Michigan? I was thinking of buying some and incorporating them into the wooded area that borders our lot.

My wife and I bought a house that has a wooded backyard with a very damp and wet depression in the woods. We also have all kinds of frogs in our yard, who needs to go to the zoo when the frogs are sitting on your deck.

Hi Scott,

Here is a LINK (http://www.orchids.org/ooc/na_orchids/us_orchids_java.shtml) you should check out. Hope this helps! :D

Hey Scott,

The native species in your state include: acaule, arietinum, candidum, parviflorum (varieties pubescens, parviflorum, and makasin),and reginae. You can grow all but candidum and reginae in a woodland setting. I'm a bit concerned about the wet part though. Cyps, although they are found in wetlands in the wild, don't require wet conditions to grow and in fact they may die easily. I would recommend growing them in areas that are free draining. In addition acaule requires highly acidic soils (pH 4.5 or less). Probably any of the varieties of parviflorum would be your best bet. They are very reliable growers and given enough light will bloom year after year.

Tom

Here is a LINK (http://www.orchids.org/ooc/na_orchids/us_orchids_java.shtml)
What a cool site! Thanks for sharing it!

Scott, what part of Michigan? (If I'm not being too bold.) I live in the Lansing area.

Thanks for all of the information.

Tom - It appears that the area I would like to plant in does get very wet during the winter and early spring months. I'm just assuming this based upon the soil that I see. I really don't know since we moved in to the house in July. I will have to wait and see. I know that trilium is growing in the area along with a hosta.

Dot - I live in Commerce Township, about a mile from Walled Lake.

Dot - I live in Commerce Township, about a mile from Walled Lake.
That's a pretty area. You probably belong to the Michigan Orchid Society, then? We are sharing a speaker with you this weekend: Gene Crocker from Carter and Holmes Orchids.