growing Cypripedium reginae

[Ashley]

hello all,

I live in southern Ontario, and am interested in growing Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae) alongside a native pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea). I was recently travelling through the Bruce Peninsula and saw these two plants growing in close proximity, in what appeared to be a boggy/wet environment.

I have read that Purple pitcher plant grows in acidic/mossy bogs, but it may tolerate more basic conditions. I was under the impression that Showy Lady's Slipper grew in basic soils -- that is why it is found in the calcareous Bruce Peninsula.

Because I saw these two plants growing in their native environment just a few feet away from each other, I am inclined to think I should be able to purchase them and grow them together in my yard if I create the proper environment. I'd also like to plant iris versicolour with them, as these native iris were also growing beside the pitcher plant and orchid on the side of the road.

If I build a shallow boggy pond / wetland in my garden, should I make it acidic with peat moss, and will Cypripedium reginae grow under these conditions?


Thank you,
Ashley.

[snowballsarebad]

Ashley
My family has this orchid growing wild in a ditch on the side of a gravel/dirt road at our cabin in central Michigan. The ground is not exactly boggy where they are, but there is a small swampy area about 15-20 feet away, and the property borders a small river, so the ground stays more moist than usual. I don't know if you would want to grow them right in a bog, unless you've seen them grown that way. The plants are right on the edge of a treeline, so throughout the day they get direct sun to considerable shade. I've posted pictures of them on here before, do a search and you should be able to find them.
I don't know the pH of the soil, but I may be able to check it in a few weeks when I make a trip up there (I live in Virginia right now). Also, it might be useful to Google search and see if others have suggestions for growing the reginae---I did a simple search and came up with a wealth of sites and some information that looked like it might be pretty useful.
Please please whatever you do though, don't dig up wild orchids and try to transplant them! It is against the law in most places (not sure about Canada...) and it is not often successful. Here's only one example of a place to buy them: Cypripedium reginae- Vermont Ladyslipper Company (note that they say the soil should have a neutral pH)

[snowballsarebad]

Actually, I never made a separate thread for them, but here is the link to where the pictures are in case you want to see:
June Photography Contest