Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum) is in the Orchids family (Orchidaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,549 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Yellow Lady's Slipper: observations by month (U.S.)
About Yellow Lady's Slipper
Cypripedium parviflorum, commonly known as yellow lady's slipper, moccasin flower, or hairy yellow ladyslipper is a lady's slipper orchid found in North America.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Yellow Lady's Slipper by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 496 | June | May–Jun |
| Minnesota | 364 | June | May–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 283 | June | May–Jun |
| Virginia | 233 | May | Apr–May |
| Vermont | 223 | May | May–Jun |
| North Carolina | 175 | May | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 78 | April | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 78 | May | May–May |
| Tennessee | 70 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Kentucky | 69 | April | Apr–May |
| New York | 68 | May | May–May |
| Pennsylvania | 68 | May | Apr–May |
| Missouri | 42 | May | Apr–May |
| North Dakota | 42 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Illinois | 27 | May | Apr–May |
| Maryland | 21 | May | Apr–May |
| Georgia | 20 | April | Apr–May |
| South Dakota | 20 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Colorado | 19 | June | Jun–Jun |
| New Jersey | 19 | May | May–May |
| Maine | 18 | June | May–Jun |
| New Mexico | 17 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Iowa | 16 | May | May–Jun |
| Montana | 16 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Arkansas | 13 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 11 | May | May–May |
| New Hampshire | 11 | May | May–Jun |
| Alaska | 7 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Nebraska | 6 | May | May–May |
| West Virginia | 6 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Orchids)
Pink Lady's Slipper
Showy Orchis
Spotted Coralroot
Crane-Fly Orchid
Tuberous Grasspink
Downy Rattlesnake Plantain
Showy Lady's Slipper
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 Yellow Lady's Slipper?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to June.
Where is Yellow Lady's Slipper most often seen?
The most observations come from Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin.