***NY- Vulnerable***

    Pink Lady's Slipper is one of several rare orchids that can be found in New York.  Habitat is woods, mostly under oaks and pines (although the one pictured was found in the open under huckleberry bushes.).  Pink Lady's Slipper is interesting in that it is the only Lady's Slipper in our range with basal leaves only.  It is also our only Lady's Slipper with a cleft pouch.  The ones I've seen were very fragrant, much more so than the Yellow Lady's Slippers I'm familiar with.  This orchid is perennially grown, new stalks form from the same root system year after year.  The one pictured above must have been part of a large underground structure as there were 12-15 separate flowers growing in a small area.  Although pretty and unique, Lady's Slippers are not well adapted to gardens and most attempts to propagate them fail.  They have strict soil requirements and are difficult to start from seed due to a symbiotic relationship with members of the fungus kingdom.  All native orchids are protected by New York State Law due to their uniqueness and vulnerability to exploitation.