
Minnesota’s orchids: Beautiful and diverse flora worth protecting

Photo by Teresa Boardman via Flickr
By Netanya Sadoff, BS '25, Environmental Science, Policy, and Management
You may already be familiar with Minnesota’s state flower, the Showy Lady’s Slipper. Its iconic pink-and-white petals and striking shape embody Minnesotan identity just as much as ice fishing and tater-tot hotdish. If you have a green thumb, you might even know that the Lady’s Slipper is part of the Orchidaceae family, commonly known as orchids. However, what you might not realize is that the Showy Lady’s Slipper is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to orchids in Minnesota.
Orchids are often associated with tropical regions, thanks in part to the popularity of tropical orchids as houseplants worldwide. While it’s true that orchids thrive in equatorial climates, they also grow in cooler areas, showcasing their remarkable adaptability. In fact, approximately 200 orchid species are native to the continental United States, with 48 of them found right here in Minnesota.
This impressive diversity makes Minnesota a hotspot for orchids, boasting nearly one-quarter of all US orchid species. Among the state’s orchid varieties are the whimsically named Fairy’s Slipper and Dragon’s Mouth, the polka-dotted Spotted Coralroot, and the Downy Rattlesnake Plantain, known for its variegated leaves and understated flowers. From the dense bogs of the Mississippi headwaters in the north to the colorful prairies in the west and the lush broadleaf forests in the southeast, orchids can be found in every Minnesota county, each species uniquely adapted to its local environment.
These orchids play a critical role in maintaining the health and balance of their ecosystems. However, the same characteristics that make them so vital also render them vulnerable to environmental changes. Currently, 20% of Minnesota’s orchid species are listed as rare or endangered by the Department of Natural Resources. This means one in five of the state’s native orchid species could disappear within our lifetime without intervention. Fortunately, University of Minnesota scientists and conservationists are working diligently to protect these flowers and the ecosystems they support.
Orchids are particularly challenging to propagate in captivity due to their unique relationships with fungi and soil. To address this, scientists at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s Native Orchid Conservation Program (NOCP) have developed innovative techniques to germinate orchid seeds in the lab. By using live mycorrhizal fungi to mimic the natural conditions orchids need to grow, they are making significant progress in conserving endangered species. While not every endangered orchid species has been successfully propagated yet, the NOCP is continually advancing toward this goal.
This is where you, the voters, have made a difference. Since its inception as a constitutional amendment in 1988, the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) has used proceeds from the Minnesota State Lottery to support critical environmental projects. The ENRTF was set to expire in 2025, but in last November’s election, Minnesotans overwhelmingly voted to renew the fund through 2050. This decision ensures continued support for initiatives like the NOCP, safeguarding not only our orchids but also the broader health of Minnesota’s ecosystems, including several CFANS research initiatives.