Many people “know” that orchids are entirely tropical or subtropical in nature. But in truth, orchids can be found in almost every part of the globe except for the deserts and the polar regions.

About 85% of orchid types will inded be found in the tropics and subtropics, but that leaves a large number to the more temperate zones. Among other things, this means that you will not be out of luck if you live in a coolish area and want to grow orchids, but do not have a greenhouse or other such area in which do so so.

The number of orchid species known to botanists is in the tens of thousands. You might be surprised to find out that there could be naturally occurring orchids thriving in your own neighborhood, even if you dwell in one of our more northerly regions. Take the relatively common Lady Slipper.

Lady Slippers (also written Lady’s Slippers and Ladyslippers) is the name given to a large subfamily of orchids, the Cypripedioidea, with many species that grow in cool climates across North America and Europe. If you live in the New England states of the U.S., or the Appalachian mountain region, or even in Canada, you might find Lady Slippers of one variety or another growing in the woods near your home.

A species of Lady Slipper is the state flower of Minnesota. Another is the official state wildflower of New Hampshire. The Canadian province of Prince Edward Island has a Lady Slipper as its official flower.

If you’re considering growing orchids, especially in an outdoor garden, you would do well to consider a native species. It will already be adapted to your particular climate, and–if you live in a place that sees low temperatures in the winter–you might not even need to bring it inside when cold weather arrives.

In North America, one of the most striking native orchids is the Yellow Lady Slipper. It is also among the easiest orchids to grow in a garden. On the other hand, the Pink Lady Slipper is extremely difficult to grow.These are both gorgeous plants, but if you don’t yet have a lot of experience under your belt, go with the Yellow Lady Slipper.

Nurseries that specialize in orchid plants tend to run out of stock from time to time. Nevertheless, Lady Slippers are generally some of the easiest orchids to obtain. They are furthermore less expensive, generally, than orchid plants that come from far away. They are a great orchid for getting your thumb green, so to speak, before you take on the challenge of rarer or more “foreign” species.

All of the rules governing successful orchid growing apply to the Lady Slippers and similar plants. You need accurate information before you begin trying to grow these or other orchids, and  the best, most thorough guide to modern orchid growing, without a doubt, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded from the web. Howard’s wonderful guide will provide a complete immersion in the subject. Also, be sure to visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which has a growing library of articles on many aspects of orchid cultivation.