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Re: [PRIMROSES] Lady's Slippers

In a message dated 97-12-31 22:33:41 EST, you write:

<<  you should add to your list Cyprepedium spp. (Lady's
 Slipper) and cultivars.  I have tried to grow it, but winter always
 finishes it off.  >>

Hi Sheila,

Which species of Cyprepedium didn't survive the winter in your area?  Lady
Slippers are usually considered the jewels of the northern woods, here in
Minnesota, esp. the Showy Lady's-slipper (Cypripedium reginae), our State
Flower.  We are told not to try to grow it unless we can provide perfect
conditions and NEVER buy plants collected from the wild.  The soil should be
high in organic matter and on the acid side, conditions found in our northern
woods, and needs a MYCORRHIZAL FUNGUS to survive.  Supposedly, the Yellow
Lady's-slipper (C. calceolus) is easiest to grow, requiring partial shade and
a soil high in organic matter.  According to Dr. Leon C. Snyder's book "Native
Plants For Northern Gardens", there are two other natives here, the Stemless
Lady's-slipper (C. acaule) and the Small White Lady's-slipper (C. candidum).
BTW, Dr. Snyder was director of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum from its
founding in 1958 until 1976 and also Head of the Dept. of Horticultural
Science at the U of M from 1953 to 1970.  (He is/was a well known and
respected authority in this area.)

I don't have any experience growing Lady's slippers myself, but someday I
would like to start with the easier Yellow Lady's slipper.  Can anyone tell me
just what the mycorrhizal fungus is and what function it performs for the
Lady's slippers?

Thanks,
Cindy Johnson
White Bear Lake, MN
zone 4a in area of neutral soils
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