PlantFiles: Stemless Lady's Slipper, Moccasin Flower
Cypripedium acaule

Like most folks I don't recommend transplanting this beautiful wildflower except under special circumstances; for instance, when the developers move in with bulldozers. Here's a technique my brother developed 30 years ago which seems to have worked:
Get a wooden bushel basket.
Invert it over a single plant if possible.
Mark the perimeter, and dig a hole as wide as the perimeter and as deep as the basket.
Now lift the plant, dirt and all, and put it in the basket.
Dig a hole as big and deep as the basket and put the plant + basket in it and water in. Mulch with pine straw and pray. His have lasted 30 years and multiplied.

I have grown native orchids and in particular Cypripedium for several years now. Acaule to me is the gem of the North. When it is happy, it is truly prolific (300+ flowering stems in 1/4 Sq. Mi.). Unfortunately, that may be a thing of the past. One of the largest hurdles for our native orchids is cross pollination. Groups of plants become severed on their own little islands or preserved land. No new genes arrive, eventually leading to inbred lines and very poor seed production. If you are lucky enough to have these growing naturally on your property I might make a few suggestions: leave them alone, they are a lot tougher than they get credit for! Try thinning tree limbs overhead, the more indirect bright light, the more growth and flowers; and lastly, talk to a local orchid society, many orchid societies are involved with pollination programs to help diversify our beloved Lady's Slippers genes and making sure they will be around for a long time to come.

A beautiful terrestrial orchid native to the eastern part of the US. These grow in shady pine forests in small clumps and can be seen flowering in May and June.

It is tempting to pick these orchids in the wild, but natural pollination rates are very low (10% according to the Massachusetts Wild Flower Society website) and the plant can be slow to propagate, so plants should be left undisturbed.

It is extremely difficult to transplant these orchids successfully, as their root systems are very fragile and they require the presence of mycorrhiza fungus in the soil to help with the absorption of nutrients. Early success with transplanting is no indication of the plants long-term survival, and plants usually die within 4 to 5 years after being transplanted. This doesn't sound too bad in and of itself, but individual plants can live for 100 years in the wild. It is better to leave them alone, and they look better in their natural environment anyway.

These Lady Slippers are very common in Massachusetts, and it isn't unusual to see hundreds of them while walking in a shady wild pine forest. Though it is perfectly legal to pick them in neighboring New Hampshire, there are laws in Massachusetts that protect all native orchid species. This plant does not, however, appear on the list of species that are protected or "of interest" in the state. I was recently walking in a nature reserve in my town that gets quite a bit of foot traffic, and there were many stands of unmolested Lady Slippers right next to the trail, indicating to me that most people were aware of and respected the special status and beauty of this plant in its natural habitat.

I grow it with my pitcher plants (Sarracenia) and it seems to love the wet peaty soil. It has spread each year.

I have been blessed with these beautys growing native on my small lot. I have set aside the area they like as a "no garden zone". 2004 count 40 plants 6 blooms

I live in upstate Ny and recently noted some new additions to my garden. I did not know what they were and so took some photos to ask other gardeners. Someone finally told me that it was called "Lady Slipper" and that is how I searched and found this page. "MY" Lady Slippers just appeared and are beautful. THere are 2 pairs in my garden. After hearing how endangered they are and how difficult to grow, I feel very blessed! I will upload photos soon.

It's a stunningly beautiful native plant in New England.
However, I've lost some due to a black leaf condition, mold or mildew, and have received mixed opinions on how to deal with it.

This plant prefers dry, acidic woods, typically on slopes or steep hillsides, and in sphagnum bogs.

Showy bloom but often hidden in the woodland shade. Please do not dig from the wild. Mine was nursery propagated and does well in my shade garden.

Has a reputation for being difficult to grow; however one site suggests using only soft water (add a couple tablespoons of vinegar) when watering, and do not fertilize. A beautiful and endangered native plant.