You may discover the rare and beautiful pink lady’s slipper (cypripedium acaule) while hiking through forests in the summer. It is native to the north central and northeastern United States and Canada. The pink lady’s slipper is the official state wildflower of New Hampshire and the official provincial flower of Prince Edward Island.

The pink lady’s slipper is a member of the orchid family and is a perennial plant. It is also called the “moccasin flower” because its delicate pink bloom resembles a moccasin. The pink lady’s slipper loves shady, moist areas with acidic soil. It is considered a stemless plant and can grow up to 12 inches tall. It has two, large basal leaves from which a flower stalk will bear a single bloom anywhere from May through July, depending on its location. The flower is framed by brownish-maroon sepals and can range in color from pale pink to deep magenta. The fine hairs on the plant’s stalk contain a poisonous fatty acid that deters animals from eating it and, if touched, can cause dermatitis to some people.

The pink lady’s slipper is pollinated by bees that enter its bloom through its front opening and get trapped due to the internal petal folds. The bee finds nectar inside of the bloom and escapes through an opening at the top of the flower. At this exit is the flower’s pollen pad. The pollen sticks to the bee on its way out, and the bee continues to the next flower.

The pink lady’s slipper’s seed capsules split open at the end of the summer and seeds are taken by the wind. The seeds rely on the presence of fungus to germinate, and the plant may need to grow for several years before blooming.

In most states, it is illegal to pick or move pink lady’s slippers as they are considered threatened or endangered.