Lady's slipper is a rare terrestrial orchid with a pouch-shaped lip

Cypripedium is the collective name for terrestrial orchids of the genus Cypripedium in the family Orchidaceae. They are named for their lip, which is specialized and swollen into a pouch or slipper shape, making the flower look like a delicate little shoe. Plants of this genus are mainly distributed in the northern temperate zone, and the mountainous areas of southwest China are an important distribution center. They mostly grow under forest canopies, at forest edges or in thickets, in places with deep humus.

The flowers of Cypripedium are among the larger types in the orchid family, with colors in many shades such as purplish red, yellow, white and green. The two lateral petals are often twisted and spread out, and together with the swollen lip they create a distinctive form with high ornamental value. Its pouch-shaped lip is also a clever pollination device: after an insect falls into the pouch, it must crawl out along a specific passage, and in doing so it helps the plant complete pollination.

Common species include the large-flowered lady's slipper (Cypripedium macranthos), the spotted lady's slipper (Cypripedium guttatum) and the yellow lady's slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum), and many of them have been listed in the national key protected wild plant list, with wild populations becoming increasingly scarce. Therefore, viewing and cultivation should mainly rely on artificially propagated plants; digging up wild Cypripedium at will both damages the ecology and may violate relevant laws and regulations.

Growing Cypripedium at home is somewhat difficult. It likes cool, humid conditions and bright indirect light, and fears strong direct sunlight and hot, stuffy conditions. The growing medium should be loose, airy, rich in humus and kept slightly moist without waterlogging. In summer, pay attention to ventilation and cooling, and in winter let it experience a moderate period of low-temperature dormancy; with proper care it can bloom again year after year.