Hillside Nursery
Orchids
Cypripediums (Lady-Slippers)
Lady-Slippers (Cypripedium) are a stunning group of hardy orchids, and one of the easiest of the hardy orchids to grow. In the shade garden they put on a yearly show that is unmatched - a celebration of spring that often stops one in one's tracks. Their blooms are ancient and seem to have the power to stir something deep inside us.
For many years, and even today, there persists the notion that lady-slipper orchids are too difficult to grow and should be left to the experts. With the availability of nursery propagated plants, (and when one starts with plants from a reliable source) this is no longer the case. With proper care in planting and site location (as with any perennial you value), Lady-Slippers will not only grow, but over time will form large clumps which tend to be very long-lived.
If you're interested in trying to grow lady-slippers but are unsure, we recommend starting with one of the easier forms and then seeing how it goes for you. Much of our business over the years has been from repeat customers, many of whom have started slow and have gone on to build large collections.
Please Note: These are NOT tropical orchids.
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Cypripedium 'Rita Alba'
There is a bit of a story to this one. The parviflorum var. makasin, aka 'Rita' part of the cross, originally came from the Putney Garden Center in Vermont in the mid 1950s. It spent 35+ years in gardens in Amherst, MA before I was given a division from a gardener named Rita in the early 1990s, and so we have always referred to this very distinct form by her name. 'Rita' is a charming dwarf form of parviflorum var. makasin. I set out to grow more of them and it seems that some insect beat me to the pollination and crossed it with C. candidum, producing a surprise batch of the hybrid andrewsii. Where other andrewsii I've grown tend to come up too fast and then flop over, Rita Alba is compact. It comes up slow and sturdy. Its blooms have creamy white pouches with reddish-brown veining and dark brown sepals and petals. It usually blooms early-mid season.
Zones 3-6. 8-10 in. Light shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil.
Blooming-sized plants.
Cypripedium kentuckiense
The largest flowered of all the Cyps, with pale yellow blooms on tall stems. The last to bloom for us, starting here in late May into June, lasting for one-and-a-half to three weeks, depending on weather conditions. One of the easiest to grow, over time C. kentuckiense will form large clumps and persist for years. A native of Kentucky and ranging south to Louisiana, it can be grown successfully as far north as Zone 3. It is the most tolerant of high summer soil temperatures. In the wild it is found growing in rich neutral moist-but-well-drained soil.
Zones 4-8. 16-20 in. Light shade, moist rich well-drained soil, with approximately neutral pH.
We are ofering two sizes: Blooming-sized plants and well-rooted, near blooming-sized plants.
Cypripediums: Hybrids (Hybrid Lady-slippers)
While the purists often gravitate to growing the species, there's a lot to be said for the value of hybrids in the garden. All the same qualities of the species still apply here but, for many, we also have the addition of some new colors along with hybrid vigor.
Cypripedium 'Aki Pastel'
This hybrid form tends to have very large flowers with cream colored pouches and can have some pink and cream streaked petals and tendrils. Flower size and color does vary somewhat. It is the first to bloom here at the nursery with C. 'Gisela' flowering just behind it.
Zones 3-6. 16-20 in. Light shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil.
We are offering two sizes: An extra-large blooming-sized plants and regular blooming-sized plants.
Cypripedium 'Aki'
This hybrid form tends to have very large flowers with light pink pouches and burgundy and cream streaked petals and sepals. Flower size and color does vary somewhat. It is the first to bloom here at the nursery with C. 'Gisela' flowering just behind it.
Zones 3-6. 16-24 in. Light shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil.
We are offering two sizes: Blooming-sized plants as well as well-rooted, near blooming sized plants.
Cypripedium 'Emil'
Emil is a cross between the old world yellow lady slipper, C. calceolus and the new world, C. parviflorum. The blooms are a deep yellow with dark brown tendrils. Bloom time is about the same as C. parviflorum. It will appreciate a little added lime and a mulch cover.
Zones 4-7. 12-14 in. Light, bright shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil.
Blooming-sized plants.
Cypripedium 'Gisela'
Registered in 1991, this hybrid has proven the test of time. It has that robust hybrid vigor, and is just maybe the easiest cyp to grow. The flower buds start out yellow, then turn burgundy red with varying streaks of creamy yellow as they mature. The petals and sepals are a deep burgundy with a touch of yellow.
Zones 3-6. 12-16 in. Light shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil.
We are offering two sizes: Blooming-sized plants and well-rooted, near blooming sized plants.
Regular Price $42.00. On sale this spring! View additional images here
3 or more "Near Blooming-sized" = $26.00 ea.
Cypripedium 'Hank Small'
This easy-to-grow hybrid sports a deep yellow pouch contrasted by long, twisted, reddish-brown tendrils. It tends to produce two blooms per stem as the plant matures. The name Hank Small actually refers to the parentage: Hank is the common name for C. henryi and C. parviflorum means "small".
Zones 4-7. 12-16 in. Light shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil.
We are offering two sizes: Extra Large Blooming-sized plants and Blooming or near blooming-sized plants.
Cypripedium 'Inge'
Inge has proven to be quite vigorous and easy to grow, readily multiplying into a large clump. The flower, about the size of a large yellow lady-slipper, has a creamy-yellow pouch with a deep red margin around the lip. The dark striped tendrils provide an attractive contrast. Inge is an early to mid-season bloomer.
Zones 4-7. 12-17 in. Light shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil.
Blooming-sized plants. View additional images here
Cypripedium 'Michael Alba'
This is the white form of Michael and it is a 'stand-out in a growing field of Cyp hybrids. It is a cross between a creamy white C. macranthos and the multi-flowered C. henryi. Most of the plants are bi-floral and there have been a few tri-floral. Medium to large-sized blooms start out a pale green, then turn to a soft cream, and then slowly fade to white. This is one of the first lady-slippers to bloom for us here at the nursery in the spring.
Zones 3-6. 16-18 in. Light shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil.
Blooming-sized plants.
View additional images here
Cypripedium 'MPK'
This is the first offering of C. MPK. It is also the first in a series of tricrosses hybrids we have been making. This is a very vigorous hybrid between C. macranthos (deep pink flower) and an exceptional pubescens- kentuckiense cross named PK (yellow flower). Flowers are shades of pink with dark tendrils and medium to large in size. Blooms mid to late season.
Zones 4-7. 12-16 in. Light shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil.
We are offering two sizes: Blooming-sized plants and well-rooted, near blooming-sized plants.
3 or more "Near Blooming-sized" = $35.00 ea.
Cypripedium 'Philipp'
The flowers of this particular (macranthos X kentuckiense) hybrid are the shape and size of kentuckiense but the color is a soft pink to light purple (darker in cold weather, lighter in warmer weather) and the sepals and petals tend to be a rich burgundy. This is a tall, large-leafed plant that is very heat tolerant and easy to grow. Blooms mid season before C. kentuckiense.
Zones 3-8. 12-16 in. Light shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil, with approximately neutral ph.
We are offering two sizes: Blooming-sized plants and well-rooted, near-blooming-sized plants.
Cypripedium 'Sarah Louise'
Sarah Louise has reginae back-crossed into Ulla Silkens, which is C. flavum x C. reginae. I like trying back-crosses and this one has done well. It has maintained the strong growth habit of the first cross and has produced a wide range of blooms -- from pure white to light pink, white with pink spotting, all the way to deep pink. Easier to grow than straight C. reginae, these will form large clumps reaching up to 36 inches tall. This is an end-of-the-season bloomer.
Zones 3-6. 30-36 in. Light shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil.
Blooming or near blooming-sized plants, (most of these have already bloomed here at the nursery), but with C.reginae and its crosses, it is very hard to tell if a plant is going to re-bloom in the coming season simply by looking at the dormant plant.
Cypripedium 'Victoria'
This yellow lady-slipper is a striking plant. It has a bit of a bigger pouch than C. pubescens and is a creamier yellow color. The tendrils are a nice burgundy.
Zones 4-7. 12-16 in. Light shade, cool moist rich well-drained soil.
Blooming or near-blooming-sized Plants.
