State Flower - Pink Lady's Slipper

The Lady's Slipper was adopted as the state flower in 1902.

The pink and white lady’s slipper (Cypripedium reginae), also known as the showy lady’s slipper or queen’s lady slipper, was adopted as the state flower in 1902. Found living in open fens, bogs, swamps, and damp woods where there is plenty of light, lady’s slippers grow slowly, taking up to 16 years to produce their first flowers. They bloom in late June or early July. The plants live for up to 50 years and grow four feet tall. A century ago, the showy lady’s slipper was a favorite adornment in rural church altars during the summer. Since 1925 this rare wildflower has been protected by state law (it is illegal to pick the flowers or to uproot or unearth the plants). The specimens pictured here were growing near Chaska.

Pink and White Showy Lady’s Slipper: Cypripedium reginae (DNR)

Minnesota Statutes 1902 section 1.142

State Symbols

State Bird - Loon
State Drink - Milk
State Fish - Walleye
State Flag
State Seal
State Song - Hail! Minnesota
State Fruit - Honeycrisp Apple
State Butterfly - Monarch
State Flower - Pink Lady's Slipper
State Gemstone - Agate
State Grain - Wild Rice
State Muffin - Blueberry
State Mushroom - Morel
State Photograph - Grace
State Sport - Ice Hockey
State Tree- Norway Pine
State Soil - Lester
State Motto - L’etoile du Nord
State Bee - Rusty Patched Bumblebee