I remember when I discovered we could actually grow ladyslipper orchids in the garden, despite so many stories of them being impossible to cultivate. The reality is that one ladyslipper, Cypripedium acaule is tough to move. Otherwise, they’re easy. I just took this photo of our clump of Cypripedium ‘Hank Small’…32 flowers this year! I hope you will give these a try in your light shade garden. A slightly moist soil is best, although this one is grown much too dry under a giant pine tree.
Would it help to incorporate Mycorrhizal into the soil?
We find that well-prepared soils with plenty of organic matter tend to have enough natural mycorrhiae, but we haven’t done side by side comparisons.