PlantFiles: Yellow Lady Slipper, Yellow Moccasin Flower, Golden Slipper Orchid, Yellow Indian Shoe
Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens

I received 3 of these plants from a friend of my wife's, and have had problems finding information about the proper depth to plant them. I don't know how deeply the plant "bud" should be , and would appreciate any information or advice. It is known to grow well in this area of eastern Tennessee.

One of my favorite native orchids that I am lucky to have in my central Virginia garden. Native to my area, I transplanted a small colony (saved from a road project) years ago. What was 8 plants is now close to 20.
From my experience, this is about the only Cypripedium that will transplant and grow/colonize easily. I have it planted in a natural setting among deciduous trees and pines, my soil is red clay with a thick layer of leaf mould on top. Rainfall here averages around 45" per year, warm muggy summers and cold winters (max low -10*).
Have seen this growing in gardens in regular garden soil.

I love this plant, mainly for its beauty and rarity. I had one when I moved here and now I have 3 but it has been many years. I have seen them in a catalog for around $150!!! apiece. Although they have been seen in big colonies, I have never seen that. They MUST have shade, and some of the shade should be pine. They like very acid soil. They form seed pods very infrequently so my husband has taken to using a brush to help polinate them. I found that they can be fertilized, but don't know much about that so if anyone has a prefered successful formula for fertilizing, please let me know here and by e-mail...