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Key characteristics

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

Groundcovers

Cypripedium formosanum

Taiwanese Lady's Slipper Orchid

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.

Light

Partial shade to bright filtered light

Water

Consistent moisture

Bloom time

Mid to late spring

Find this plant

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.