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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Cypripedium montanum (Mountain lady's slipper)
Glase, Terry

Cypripedium montanum

Cypripedium montanum Douglas ex Lindl.

Mountain Lady's Slipper

Orchidaceae (Orchid Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: CYMO2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)

A leafy plant with few stems in a clump, and near the top 1-3 white and dull purple bilaterally symmetrical flowers, 1 in each upper leaf axil.

Most Lady's Slippers are handsome plants, all the more charming because of the mystique and romance surrounding Orchids. So many species have been dug up that most are now rare in the wild. Although many enthusiasts try to cultivate these plants as ornamentals, they will die in the garden.

 

From the Image Gallery

26 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 28 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Green , Purple
Bloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AK , CA , ID , MT , OR , WA , WY
Canada: AB , BC , SK
Native Distribution: Alaska to northern California, northern Idaho, and northwestern Wyoming.
Native Habitat: Dry or moist, open or lightly shaded, brushy or wooded valleys and slopes.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FACU FACU FACU
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Cypripedium montanum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Cypripedium montanum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Cypripedium montanum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-04-24
Research By: TWC Staff

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