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When I first became interested in the Cypripediums and Selenipediums in the 1950s, there were no sources of seed-grown plants. In fact, none of these ladyslippers had ever been grown from seed to flower in cultivation. Today, there are a number of growers around the world who provide everything from seedlings right out of flask to mature blooming-size plants to the supplies needed to cultivate our favorite genera in the garden, greenhouse, and laboratory. Below you will find links to many of these vendors. If you are aware of other purveyors of quality legitimately propagated or rescued/collected plants, please email me with the particulars. I will post the information to encourage support for their enterprises. Please note that I do not produce or sell commercially and I do not have a commercial relationship with any of these vendors.
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The Ultimate Hub of the Orchid Network Carson Whitlow's OrchidMall.com is the first stop on the web for any orchid lover. There are vendors from all over the world, many specializing in Cypripediums, hardy orchids, and terrestrials. Carson and I first met at the Mid-America Orchid Congress in Detroit, Michigan in October 1981. He was inspired at that meeting to launch a successful project to propagate the hardy species for sale. The website has grown to be perhaps the most important source of orchid information on the web. When you meet Carson, be sure to thank him.
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SuppliesRoberts Flower Supply, 12390 Root Road, Columbia Station, Ohio 44028, USA. (440) 236-5571, rfs@orchidmix.com. Seed-grown Cypripediums and a vast array of hard-to-get supplies including Turface®, the U.S. equivalent of Seramis®. |
Flasking Services Kelsey Creek LaboratoriesRoger and Jane Smith run an excellent flasking service, recently updated and improved in Issaquah, Washington. They have been in the forefront of research and development of techniques for germinating terrestrial species including Cypripedium. They are one of the few labs to offer colchicine treatments for ploidy experiments. I have been a happy customer for several years. |
 Rockbridge Laboratory ServicesKen and Dawn Mettler operate Rockbridge Laboratory Services, located in the Hocking Hills region in southeastern Ohio. Their laboratory was initially set up to accommodate their interest in breeding tropical orchids. It soon expanded to include research and development in propagation of native orchid species that grow on and around their property. I met them at the Mid-America Orchid Congress in Nashville in September 2004. Check out the fabulous photos on their site. |
Seedlings and Mature PlantsSpangle Creek Labs, Bovey, Minnesota, USA -- Critical source for seedlings of native and Eurasian species of cypripediums. Flasklings are sent in sterile containers. Spangle Creek is often a source of very scarce species and varieties. |
 Cyp Haven, Adel, Iowa, USA -- One of the oldest and most interesting sources of Cypripedium species and hybrids, seed propagated and rescued/salvaged.
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 The Wild Orchid Company, Doylestown, Pennsylvania, USA -- The Wild Orchid Company is a family owned company dedicated to the ethical production and sales of hardy terrestrial orchids for the perennial garden. Their focus is on an assortment of upland and wetland terrestrial orchid species. Owner William Mathis is author of the just-published The Gardeners Guide to Growing Hardy Perennial Orchids.
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 Hillside Nursery, Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, USA -- Species and hybrid lady-slippers (Cypripedium), 100% nursery-propagated. Hillside Nursery has been propagating Cypripediums for 15 years now and currently has over 20 forms in some stage of production.
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Selenipediums Ecuagenera, Orquideas del Ecuador, is the only commercial source for Selenipediums of which I am aware. Do yourself and the species a favor though -- don't even think of trying this genus unless you are prepared to supply its specific needs. |
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