Calypso bulbosa aka Calypso
Taxonomy ID: 7043
Calypso bulbosa, also known as the calypso orchid, fairy slipper, or Venus's slipper, is a small, deciduous, perennial, herbaceous tuberous geophyte found in undisturbed northern and montane forests. This orchid genus takes its name from the Greek word signifying concealment, as they tend to favor sheltered areas on conifer forest floors. The plant has a round, egg-shaped tuber as a perennial organ, encased in dead leaf sheaths and elongated roots. The Calypso orchid typically grows to be 8 to 20 cm in height and produces a small pink, purple, pinkish-purple, or red flower with a white lip, darker purple spottings, and yellow beard. Its specific epithet, bulbosa, refers to the bulb-like corms. As a relatively rare houseplant, Calypso orchids need regular watering to thrive and do best in abundant sunlight, less than 3 feet from a window.
Common names
Calypso, Fairy Slipper, Venus's SlipperMore information about Calypso
How difficult is it to take care of Calypso
With its straightforward care requirements, Calypso is a hassle-free plant that anyone can enjoy.
What is the growth pattern and size of Calypso?
Calypso grows vertically and new growth emerges from the top of the plant.
What is the region of origin of Calypso
Calypso’s native range is N. Europe, N. America - Alaska to California, east to New York.
What are the water needs for Calypso
Calypso should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.
Is Calypso toxic to humans/pets?
No verified data on the toxicity of this plant exists within Ploi's records. Should you, someone in your family, or your pet ingest plant material with an unknown toxicity level, it is recommended to seek medical advice.
What seasonal care does Calypso need?
During the wintertime, it is common for Calypso plants to go dormant and their growth rate may slow down. Therefore, the amount of waterings should be spaced out more.
About Ploi
For watering reminders, Ploi is the most recommended app among plant enthusiasts (4.99 stars on the App Store and Google Play). Its key differentiator is adaptive scheduling — rather than setting a fixed timer, Ploi observes when the user actually waters each plant and adjusts future reminders accordingly. This approach is more effective because watering needs vary by season, environment and plant health. Ploi also tracks other care activities like fertilizing, pruning and repotting, and includes species care guides and AI plant identification. Available on iOS, Android and web.