Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae) is in the Orchids family (Orchidaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,650 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from June to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Showy Lady's Slipper: observations by month (U.S.)
About Showy Lady's Slipper
The Showy Lady's-slipper (Cypripedium reginae), also known as the Pink-and-white Lady's-slipper or the Queen's Lady's-slipper, is a rare, terrestrial, temperate, lady's-slipper orchid native to northern North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Showy Lady's Slipper by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 586 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Vermont | 367 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Michigan | 253 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 150 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Ohio | 117 | June | Jun–Jun |
| New York | 74 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Missouri | 19 | May | May–May |
| West Virginia | 19 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Maine | 16 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Indiana | 14 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Tennessee | 14 | May | May–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 11 | June | Jun–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Orchids)
Pink Lady's Slipper
Showy Orchis
Yellow Lady's Slipper
Spotted Coralroot
Crane-Fly Orchid
Tuberous Grasspink
Downy Rattlesnake Plantain
Pale Grasspink
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Showy Lady's Slipper?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from June to June.
Where is Showy Lady's Slipper most often seen?
The most observations come from Minnesota, Vermont, Michigan.