SafePlants

Calypso bulbosa: The Fairy Slipper Orchid

Calypso bulbosa, commonly known as the calypso orchid, fairy slipper, or Venus's slipper, is a captivating perennial orchid with a wide distribution across North America and Eurasia.

Considerations for Pets

• The plant is a terrestrial orchid.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Calypso bulbosa (L.) Oakes
• Common Names: Calypso orchid, fairy slipper, Venus's slipper
• Family: Orchidaceae (Orchid family)

Distribution and Habitat

• Calypso bulbosa has a circumboreal distribution.
• In North America, it's found across Canada from Alaska to Newfoundland.
• It thrives in cool forests and bogs.
• Specific habitats include northern white-cedar dominated swamps in Maine and moist coniferous forests with cool soils.
• It can also be found in Great Lakes shoreline forests dominated by spruce, cedar, and fir.
• It grows near Bellingham, Washington, and on the southern slopes of Mt. Adams.
• Locations include Anticosti Island, British Columbia, and Kootenay National Park.

Morphology and Growth Habits

• In autumn, a single, dark green leaf sprouts from the corm.
• The leaf lasts through winter.
• The flower is described as a single, irregular flower, about 1 inch across, with 5 spreading pink to purple rays at the top, marked with purple.
• The shape resembles a small shoe, hence the common name Fairy Slipper.

Quirky Facts

• The flower's shape resembles a small shoe, giving rise to the common name "Fairy Slipper".

Further Information

• ARKive (for photos and facts)
• Dave's Garden (for gardening tips and ideas)
• MountainNature.com (for plant identification in western North America)
• Endangered Resces Program (for information on the Fairy Slipper)