Lady Slipper Orchid

Lady’s Slipper – Northern Europe’s largest orchid species

In Bjergeskoven, northwest of Skørping, you will find the only known growing site in Denmark for the Lady’s Slipper – the country’s largest orchid.

The Lady’s Slipper is the largest orchid species in Northern Europe and typically blooms around Constitution Day and for approximately two weeks afterwards. The plant was first recorded here in 1880, but was once close to disappearing due to careless plant collecting.

Today, the population is slowly recovering thanks to targeted nature management and protection of the growing site. The fence around the area is necessary to protect the plants, and the efforts appear to be working – each year, more Lady’s Slipper orchids come into bloom.

All orchid species are protected in Denmark, which means the Lady’s Slipper must not be picked, dug up or damaged.

The Lady’s Slipper is marked as point of interest 9 on the map of Rold Skov.