California Lady's Slipper Plant Care

California Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium californicum) belongs to the Orchidaceae family within the Cypripedium genus. California Lady's Slipper is native to the western United States. California Lady's Slipper is also known as California Slipper Orchid.

California Lady's Slipper displays a clumping, terrestrial orchids growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. California Lady's Slipper produces showy, slipper-shaped flowers in various colors like pink, yellow, and white.

Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.

Water a young or newly planted California Lady's Slipper every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

California Lady's Slipper thrives in filtered sunlight or partial shade. Avoid placing California Lady's Slipper in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.

Cypripedium californicum tolerates temperatures of 60–75°F. California Lady's Slipper prefers humidity levels of 50–70%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.

Well-draining, slightly acidic soil mix with good aeration like pine bark and perlite. Good drainage is essential for California Lady's Slipper to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed California Lady's Slipper every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with filtered sunlight or partial shade and well-draining, slightly acidic soil mix with good aeration like pine bark and perlite. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

California Lady's Slipper is suited to USDA Zone 13a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

California Lady's Slipper can spread to about 1 ft (0.3 m) and reach about 2 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 1 ft (0.3 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune California Lady's Slipper while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

California Lady's Slipper is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 13). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

California Lady's Slipper can be propagated through division of rhizomes or tubers. Similar propagation techniques also apply to elegant lady's slipper plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

California Lady's Slipper is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, scale insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

California Lady's Slipper grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. California Lady's Slipper is native to the western United States. In cooler regions, grow California Lady's Slipper as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.