Showy Lady's Slipper Orchid

Cypripedium reginae, the Showy Lady's Slipper, is a spectacular orchid for the edge of a pond or a specialized bog garden. While demanding more care than a typical marginal, its beauty is unparalleled. It features tall, hairy stems with large, ribbed green leaves, culminating in breathtaking flowers. The blooms have pure white petals and sepals with a large, inflated "pouch" or lip that is a vibrant rose-pink to magenta. Native to moist woodlands and bogs, it requires a permanently damp, humus-rich soil that never dries out but is well-aerated. It is surprisingly hardy in the UK (H5/H6) but must be protected from late frosts and slugs. It prefers a partially shaded position, mimicking its natural woodland edge habitat. In the right conditions, it will form substantial clumps over several years, providing a truly aristocratic highlight to the damp areas of the garden in early summer.

Sun: Partial shade.

Soil: Moist, humus-rich bog soil.

Hardiness: H6 — down to −20°C.

Flowering: Jun, Jul.