Fairy-slipper (Calypso bulbosa) observed in Skagit County, WA, USA
iNaturalist: mjonwhidbey
Phenology
iNaturalistFairy-slippers are one of the most delicate wild orchids in North America, and finding one in Skagit County means the old-growth or mature forest habitat it depends on is still intact enough to support it — the kind of ecosystem that keeps native plant communities healthy and connected.
Someone spotted a Fairy-slipper — a small, jewel-like wild orchid with a pink pouch-shaped flower — growing in Skagit County, Washington, and the sighting was verified as accurate by the iNaturalist community. This orchid is famously hard to find because it only grows in undisturbed forests and has a very specific relationship with soil fungi that most garden soils can't replicate. Each confirmed sighting helps scientists track where these orchids are holding on as forests change.
Key Findings
Observation achieved 'research grade' status on iNaturalist, meaning it was verified by multiple identifiers as a confirmed Calypso bulbosa sighting
Location is Skagit County, WA — part of the broader Pacific Northwest range where this orchid is considered uncommon and ecologically sensitive
Fairy-slipper depends entirely on mycorrhizal fungi for survival and cannot be transplanted or cultivated outside of intact forest ecosystems
chevron_right Technical Summary
A Fairy-slipper orchid was confirmed at research grade in Skagit County, Washington — a documented sighting that adds to our understanding of where this rare wild orchid survives in the Pacific Northwest.
Abstract Preview
Research-grade observation of Fairy-slipper in Skagit County, WA, USA.
open_in_new Read full abstract on iNaturalistAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Species Mentioned
Was this useful?
Urban Tree Canopy Reduces Heat-Related Mortality by 39% in European Cities
Trees in your local park or street aren't just pretty — they are literally keeping people alive during heatwaves, and planting even a modest number of the ri...
Calypso is a genus of orchids containing one species, Calypso bulbosa, known as the calypso orchid, fairy slipper or Venus's slipper. It is a perennial member of the orchid family found in undisturbed northern and montane forests. It has a small pink, purple, pinkish-purple, or red flower accente...