Ellen's Paphiopedilum

Ellen's Paphiopedilum is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Paphiopedilum helenae faces severe pressure from illegal collection for the international orchid trade, with its striking flowers making it highly sought after by collectors. The species' extremely restricted range in northern Vietnam makes entire populations vulnerable to over-harvesting. Habitat degradation from agricultural expansion and limestone quarrying in its karst limestone habitat further compounds collection pressures, leaving remaining populations increasingly fragmented and isolated.

Ellen's Paphiopedilum occurs in China, and Vietnam. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.

The main threats to Ellen's Paphiopedilum are 11.1, 11.2, 4.1, and 5.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.