SafePlants

Calypso bulbosa: The Fairy Slipper Orchid

Calypso bulbosa, a member of the orchid family (Orchidaceae), is known by several common names, including calypso orchid, fairy slipper, and Venus's slipper.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Calypso bulbosa (L.) Oakes
• Family: Orchidaceae (Orchid family)
• Synonyms: Calpyso bulbosa (L.) Ames

Distribution and Habitat

• Calypso bulbosa has a circumboreal distribution.
• It can be found across Canada from Alaska to Newfoundland.
• In New England, it is considered rare and is found in northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis) dominated swamps in Maine and New England.
• It thrives in cool forests and bogs.
• Specific habitats include spruce-balsam-cedar swamps, moist coniferous forests with cool soils, and Great Lakes shoreline forests dominated by spruce, cedar, and fir.
• It is also found in western North America, including British Columbia and Washington state.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Calypso bulbosa is a perennial orchid.
• It bears a single, showy flower on a single, dainty stem, often described as purple.
• The flower's shape resembles a small shoe, hence the common name "Fairy Slipper".
• In autumn, around September, a single, dark green leaf sprouts from the corm and lasts through winter.
• The flowers can range from white to pink to purplish.

Quirky Facts

• The fairy slipper orchid has been called the most beautiful terrestrial orchid in North America.

Further Information

• Dave's Garden is a resource for garden tips and ideas.
• MountainNature.com is a field guide for identifying plants of western North America.