Cypripedium reginae

Base Price: $35.00

Intro:
This species (the state flower of Minnesota) is perhaps the most spectacular of the Cypripediums. The plants stand from 24 to 70 cm tall. The large white, pink and magenta flowers usually emerge from mid to late June to early July. The habitat ranges from Saskatchewan to Newfoundland in Canada, south to Iowa, parts of the Hill country of Missouri and Arkansas to Virginia and northward throughout the Northeast U.S. Southern Parts of the Appalachian range (to Northern Alabama) also have populations of Cyp. reginae. We have limited offerings of these plants that will only be available in summer months. They are typically available in seedling size and are sold as single, double, or three-growth plants. Mature flowering-size plants normally bloom in mid to late June to as late as the 4th of July in Minnesota.

Light:
This plant can be found in spruce swamps, seeps, grass, meadows and fens. It can also be found growing in moist ditches along northern Minnesota roadsides. It can tolerate shady to sunny conditions. It should be noted that plants found growing in roadside ditches have tall grasses growing amongst them providing some filtering of sunlight. East facing exposures with plants receiving morning sun with shade or dappled shade from 11:00 to noon onwards are ideal.

Temperature:
This plant prefers temperatures as found naturally in the Midwest. These plants are deciduous, therefore tolerating temperatures down to negative 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, and up to about 90 degrees in the summer. It is important to cover the plants after the first frost with oak leaves to protect the plants from freezing in the winter.

Humidity:
As nature provides it.

Water:
These plants only receive rain water in nature but will tolerate well water with a mild mineral content. Keep plants moist at all times and never allow the soil to become totally dry.

Fertilizer:
Decaying oak leaves will provide a good deal of nutrition during the spring and early summer months. We highly recommend Green Jungle Orchid Food, especially formulated to work with rain, distilled, reverse osmosis water or water low in alkalinity. Fertilize with Green Jungle every third or fourth week during the summer and after green-up. Use at the rate of 1 oz.(2 tbsp)per gallon of water.

Flowering:
This plant flowers in the late spring to early summer months from mid to late June and early July. The flowers are about 8 to 10 cm long and 6 to 8.5 cm wide. They are fragrant and last 2 - 3 weeks.

Repotting:
This plant prefers to be grown in the ground. They can be planted in the spring in May or in the fall (October). Plant to just cover the roots up to half way up the new growth or eye for next year. This plant is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions from earthy loam to slightly alkaline, well-drained clay soils. It will grow in 1/2 sand 1/2 peat moss mix. If you don't have the right soil, you can build an artificial bog. Dig a hole 2’ x 2’ (or larger) x 12” deep. Using 2” x 6” cedar, build two 2’ x 2’ square frames. Line one frame with heavy plastic and drop it in the hole. Fill with clean sand (silica is best). Drop the other 2’ x 2’ frame on top of the first one and fill it with the potting medium described earlier. This will act like a bog, providing a constant source of moisture to the roots even during a drought. Keep the area free of competing weeds. In the fall, after frost, cover with a layer of oak leaves or a combination of oak leaves and pine needles 1 ½” – 2” in depth. In the spring, the growths will come again and flower, usually in mid to late May.