Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Lady Slipper
Lady Slipper is a clumping, mostly leafless succulent with upright, lime-green pencil stems about half an inch thick. In warm weather it bears small red to orange flowers shaped like slippers, and hummingbirds come to them. It grows about 3 to 6 feet tall, suits narrow beds and containers, and takes sun or partial shade.
Best for: narrow beds, small borders, patio containers and hummingbird gardens in sun or partial shade.
Its stiff, upright stems suit small and narrow borders. It grows about 3 to 6 feet tall, so plant it about 4 to 6 feet apart.
Small red to orange slipper-shaped flowers appear in the warm season, and hummingbirds visit them. Plant it near a window or patio so you can watch them feed.
Its upright clump of stems makes a good container plant. Use a fast-draining mix and let it dry between waterings.
Older plants can sprawl and look messy, so cut the old stems back. Nights below about 20 to 25°F can damage it. The milky sap irritates skin, so wear gloves when you trim it.
- Border row4 ft apart
- Open planting6 ft apart
Water deeply, then let the soil dry out before the next watering. It needs some water in summer, about monthly in the growing season, and less in winter. Soggy soil rots the roots.
It grows from full sun to shade and prefers partial shade in Phoenix. An east side or light tree shade suits it.
You can remove any number of stems at any time. Cut out old, sprawling stems to keep it tidy, wearing gloves for the sap.
It is hardy to about 20 to 25°F, so cover it with frost cloth on freeze nights and take the cover off in the morning.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
Why is it called lady slipper?
Its small red to orange flowers are shaped like tiny slippers. Look for them in the warm months.
Does it attract hummingbirds?
Yes, hummingbirds visit the flowers. Plant it where you can watch them feed.
How big does it get?
It grows about 3 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide in an upright clump. Give it that much room in a bed.
How far apart should I plant it?
Plant them about 4 to 6 feet apart, center to center. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for you.
Does it need full sun?
It grows from full sun to shade, and it prefers partial shade in Phoenix. An east side or a spot under light tree shade works well.
How often should I water it?
Give it some water in summer, about monthly in the growing season, and let the soil dry between waterings. Water it less in winter.
How cold can it take?
It is hardy to about 20 to 25°F, so cover it with frost cloth on freeze nights and take the cover off in the morning.
Is the sap harmful?
The milky sap irritates skin. Wear gloves when you cut it, and keep pets from chewing it.
Why is it called Pedilanthus and Euphorbia?
Slipper plants were moved into the genus Euphorbia, so Pedilanthus macrocarpus is now Euphorbia lomelii. Both names are still used.
Can lady slipper bother allergies?
It can. Its pollen can bother people with allergies.
Lady Slipper for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Lady Slipper is Euphorbia lomelii, sold as Pedilanthus macrocarpus, a slipper plant from Sonora and Baja California. People grow it for its upright stems and hummingbird flowers. Below is what to expect in a Valley yard, from size and sun to water, cold, flowers and spacing.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
What is a lady slipper plant?
It is Euphorbia lomelii, often sold as Pedilanthus macrocarpus, an upright succulent from Sonora and Baja California. It has green pencil stems and small red slipper-shaped flowers.
Lady slipper plant and hummingbirds
Hummingbirds visit its red to orange slipper flowers in the warm season. Plant it near a window or patio to watch them.
How big does lady slipper get?
Plan for about 3 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide. It grows as an upright clump of stems, so it fits a narrow bed.
How far apart do you plant lady slipper?
Plant them about 4 to 6 feet apart, center to center. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for you.
Lady slipper sun in Phoenix
It prefers partial shade in Phoenix but grows in full sun too. Give it some shade from the hottest afternoon sun.
Is lady slipper cold hardy?
It is hardy to about 20 to 25°F, so cover it with frost cloth on freeze nights and take the cover off in the morning.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.