Northwest Blooms · Groundcovers
Cypripedium formosanum
Taiwanese Lady's Slipper Orchid
- Family
- Orchidaceae
- Height
- 12 to 18 in
- Width
- 12 to 18 in
- Flower color
- Soft rose-pink pouch with darker veining and pale pink to white sepals and petals
- Foliage color
- Medium green, pleated, elliptic leaves with prominent parallel veining
- Bloom time
- Mid to late spring
- Light
- Partial shade to bright filtered light
- Water
- Consistent moisture
- Maintenance
- Moderate, avoid soil disturbance, remove spent flower stalks after bloom
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 6 to 9
- Wildlife
- Occasional pollination by native bees and small insects
About this plant
Cypripedium formosanum produces elegant, pouch-shaped flowers in soft rose to lavender pink, marked with deeper veining and a gently inflated lip. The blooms are carried above pleated, oval leaves with pronounced ribbing, creating a bold architectural presence. Upright stems support single flowers that hold their form well through the flowering period.
Blooming in late spring to early summer, this species is native to the mountains of Taiwan. It is valued in woodland gardens, shade borders, and specialty plantings, where its refined flowers pair naturally with ferns and spring ephemerals, offering seasonal interest and a distinctive orchid character in carefully designed landscapes.
Works well in
Woodland Gardens · Pathways & Walkways · Borders · Under Trees
Companion plants
Trilliums · Primroses · Hostas · Siberian buglosses · Hellebores · Japanese anemones
Design tip
Reserve this orchid for intimate garden spaces where its unusual flowers can be appreciated without competing for attention. Surround it with restrained foliage textures that frame the blooms, allowing their distinctive form to become the quiet focal point of the planting.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.
