The Royal Horticultural Society is bringing a slice of tropical life to the heart of London as one of its most popular events, the annual RHS Orchid Show, comes to the capital next month.
From tiny flowers the size of a 10 pence piece to immersive installations, specimens of one of Britain’s most popular flowering houseplants will be on display in all their glory alongside talks on their history, conservation and advice on how to care for them.
Specialist growers at the show will include Grow Tropicals, who will display an educational exhibit focused on orchids and terrariums. Also taking part in a panel discussion, hear about their conservation work involving experts in America and India as they unveil their plans for their exhibit at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024.
Writhlington School in Wiltshire will bring their ground-breaking 30-year-old Orchid Project, with a living educational display propagated, designed and built by students using their collection of 900 orchid species as part of their work to engage the public in plants, tropical ecosystems and the communities that share habitats with orchids.
Spicesotic Plants’ display will include specimens the size of a 10p coin, and the Mathers Foundation will exhibit plants from the National Collection of Oncidiums, which were at the heart of the Victorian orchid obsession and have been grown in the UK for over a century.
Taiwanese orchid growers Orchis Floriculturing Inc will display exotic orchids from Taiwan, and the Orchid Society of Great Britain will showcase the plants in a spectacular artistic installation.
Talks will include Dino Zelenika on orchids of Myanmar, Sara Rittershausen of Burnhams Nursery on easy orchids to grow at home, and Helen Millner on orchids in terrariums, while visitors will also be able to sample RHS Garden Wisley’s popular exhibition, Danger and Desire: The Seductive Power of Orchids.
As well as a host of shopping opportunities, a bespoke menu created for the show will be on offer courtesy of caterers at RHS Garden Hyde Hall, who will bring their cookery theatre to cook up a range of vegan and non-vegetarian dishes, with barista-made coffee and a special cake selection on offer.
Normally held at RHS Garden Wisley, this year’s RHS Orchid Show is being held at RHS Lindley Hall in Vincent Square, London due to ongoing roadworks affecting access to the garden that weekend. Judging takes place on the opening day, with trophies shortly afterwards.
David Ridgeway, chair of the RHS Orchid Committee, said: “Orchids comprise the largest and most diverse plant family on our planet. Visitors to the show are able to admire displays staged by both professional growers and amateur orchid societies.”
Fiona Davison, RHS Head of Libraries and Exhibitions, said: “Orchids have inspired countless works of art, literature, film and fashion. Their complexity, diversity and rarity have fascinated scientists and obsessed the rich. Visitors can discover how our different perceptions of orchids – as aphrodisiacs, fictional predators and mass-market commodities – have evolved.”
The RHS Orchid Show takes place at Lindley Hall in Vincent Square, London, from 15 to 17 March. Free to members, tickets cost £6 and can be purchased here:https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/orchid-show/rhs-orchid-show
