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Taxon  Report  
Cypripedium californicum  A. Gray
California lady's slipper
Cypripedium californicum is a perennial herb (rhizomatous) that is native to California, and also found in Oregon.
California Rare Plant Rank: 4.2 (limited distribution).
Siskiyou Del Norte Modoc Humboldt Shasta Lassen Trinity Plumas Tehama Butte Mendocino Glenn Sierra Yuba Lake Nevada Colusa Placer Sutter El Dorado Yolo Alpine Napa Sonoma Sacramento Mono Amador Solano Calaveras Tuolumne San Joaquin Marin Contra Costa Alameda Santa Cruz Mariposa Madera San Francisco San Mateo Merced Fresno Stanislaus Santa Clara Inyo San Benito Tulare Kings Monterey San Bernardino San Luis Obispo Kern Santa Barbara Ventura Los Angeles Riverside Orange San Diego Imperial
Observation Search
~225 records in California
yellowone or more occurrences
within a 7.5-minute quadrangle
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Bloom Period
Genus: Cypripedium
Family: Orchidaceae  
Category: angiosperm  
PLANTS group:Monocot
Jepson eFlora section: monocot

Toxicity: Possible skin irritation from touching the leaf or stem of this plant.

Wetlands: Occurs in wetlands

Ultramafic affinity: 4.5 - broad endemic

Habitat: riparian, streambanks, seeps, bogs/fens

Communities: Freshwater Wetlands, Yellow Pine Forest, wetland-riparian

Name Status:
Accepted by JEF + CNPS + PLANTS

Information about  Cypripedium californicum from other sources
Nursery availability from CNPLX
Commercial availability unknown.
Jepson eFlora

USDA PLANTS Profile (CYCA4)

Photos on Calflora

Photos on CalPhotos

Google Images

Photos on iNaturalist

ID Tips on PlantID.net

[Wikipedia] Description, Distribution, Habitat: Cypripedium californicum, the California lady's slipper, is a member of the orchid genus Cypripedium, the lady's slipper orchids, native to the western United States. Description It often grows in very large clumps and each stem can bear up to 21 flowers. It can grow to be up to over a meter in height and has alternate, plicate leaves the length of the stem. The petals and sepals tend to be greenish-brown while the small pouch is pure white with occasional pink spots.[2] Distribution and habitat it has a very restricted range and can only be found in the mountains of southwestern Oregon (including the Kalmiopsis Wilderness) and northern California.[3][4] It prefers the margins of woodland streams in open coniferous forests. (link added by Mary Ann Machi)

Learn more about Cypripedium californicum: Cypripedium californicum Jepson video: (link added by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2024. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 11/21/2024).