Pink Lady's Slipper

Contributions from: Jodi DeJong and Shelley Irving

Hike references: 14 km B.C. Green Loop A and 12.3 km Kinglet Trail

Pink lady’s slippers (Cypripedium acaule) are one of Ontario’s most beloved rare and striking native wildflowers, admired for their unique shape and rare appearance, and they have been spotted on the Northumberland Forest Green A trail in mid-to-late May. Their presence is a strong indicator of a healthy, undisturbed forest ecosystem.

A few other notes about them:

• The flower has a large, pouch-like petal—pale to deep pink in colour—known as the “slipper,” with two narrower petals above. It typically grows 3-to-6 inches tall.

• These orchids thrive in shaded, acidic soils, often under pine, hemlock, or mixed hardwood forests.

• Northumberland’s undisturbed, moist yet well-drained forest floor is ideal for their growth.

• They tend to grow in small, scattered colonies and are never found in large numbers.

  
  

Conservation Note: Although not officially endangered, pink lady’s slippers are highly sensitive to disturbance. They rely on a symbiotic relationship with a specific soil fungus to germinate and grow. For this reason, picking or transplanting them typically results in their death, and such actions are illegal or strongly discouraged in many areas.