18th Annual Orchid Exhibition
This exhibition has ended (January 26 – April 21, 2013)
Do you want to stroll through a tropical rain forest on a cold winter's day? Visit this year's orchid exhibition to explore the rich crossroads where orchid botany, horticulture, and Latin American cultures meet. Learn about the importance of orchids in Latin America folklore and cultural traditions, see how that region is a hotbed for scientific research on orchid biology and evolution, and discover conservation efforts to preserve orchids and their habitats for future generations. And of course enjoy the beautiful orchids from the Smtihsonian Gardens Orchid Collection.
View the special online exhibition
This event received Federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center.
Past Orchid Exhibits
Orchid Mystique: Nature's Triumph
Observing the 100th anniversary of the Japan's gift of the cherry blossoms to Washington, orchids are presented in settings evocative of Japanese gardens. The tranquility of the Japanese aesthetic invites appreciation of the beauty, form and exquisite floral complexity of nature's most diverse plant family.
Orchids: A View from the East
Orchids have been a part of Chinese culture for many centuries, permeating Chinese history, legends, literature, and art. Since ancient times, orchids have been celebrated in China for their beauty and fragrance, and appreciated as symbols of nobility, friendship, and refinement.
Orchid Collection
The Smithsonian Orchid Collection
The Smithsonian Orchid Collection has grown from five plants to close to 8,000 specimens since 1974. It is an invaluable resource for education, exhibition, and scientific research.