The importance of orchid conservation highlighted at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

This May, Orchid Conservation Chelsea – an international partnership of orchid experts including many from UK, China and USA, will reunite at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show to highlight the beauty, diversity and urgent conservation needs of one of the planet’s most remarkable plant families.

While many people in the UK are most familiar with the ubiquitous potted Phalaenopsis orchids found in supermarkets, Orchid Conservation Chelsea (OCC) – a global collaboration of 68 research scientists and conservation experts and 24 organisations including botanical gardens, conservation charities and specialist growers — will present a far broader and more compelling story. Their exhibits will explore the extraordinary diversity of orchids and the vital ecological roles they play within native ecosystems around the world.

With more than 31,000 species worldwide — including almost 50 native to the UK — orchids represent the largest family of vascular plants on Earth, found on every continent except Antarctica. Their ecological roles are highly complex, often involving intricate relationships with pollinators, fungi and surrounding plant life. As such, orchids are key indicators of ecosystem health. Yet these very characteristics also make them highly vulnerable. Habitat loss, deforestation, illegal collection and climate change are driving significant declines in wild orchid populations across the globe.

In partnership with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and GrowTropicals, OCC was awarded an RHS Gold Medal in 2025 for their acclaimed display “From Hong to Australia – The Orchids of Asia and The Pacific”. For this year’s exhibits, the focus turns to the exceptional beauty and cultural significance of Chinese orchids, showcased through two striking exhibits within the Show’s iconic Great Pavilion.

At the heart of the Pavilion, OCC’s main exhibit, “The Orchids of China – Beauty & Conservation” will feature a collection of native Chinese orchids, many never seen at the Show before including the fascinating and almost terrestrial looking Gastrodia elata, sourced from institutions including Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Gardens. The exhibit will be complemented by dramatic plantings of giant bamboo and traditional Chinese tea plants loaned from Tregothnan Tea in Cornwall, evoking the richness of China’s natural landscapes.

A second exhibit, “The Chinese Scholar’s Study,” sponsored by John Parke Wright IV, will welcome visitors at the entrance to the Great Pavilion. This intimate and thoughtfully curated space will showcase exquisite Orchids that inspired Confucius, displayed in elegant, historic-Ming style containers.

Visitors to the exhibit will have a chance to see the Cymbidium faberi, as it is called in the West, which has been known as Jiu Hua Lan or the nine flowered orchid in China. Cymbidium cultivation has been recorded in China for 3,000 years and this exhibit will demonstrate the beauty of this exquisite species. These plants were grown in the Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Gardens and held in refrigeration to delay the flowering, before being shipped to the UK for the Show so that the plants will be in bloom for visitors to enjoy.

After the Show, the plants will be joining the UK’s National Plant Collection of Cymbidiums in Sussex. This is one of six National Plant Collections looked after by The Mathers Foundation and other plants from the Foundation’s 20,000 orchids will be on display at the exhibit. The Mathers Foundation specialises in ex situ conservation of both orchid species and hybrids and has taken responsibility for ten major collections since it was founded in 2019.

Throughout Show week, visitors can engage directly with experts at the Orchid Conservation Chelsea “Genius Bar,” where over 60 scientists and conservationists will share insights into orchid ecology, conservation strategies and ongoing research. The team will include specialists working on China’s latest conservation initiatives, alongside contributors from OCC’s strategic partner Bees for Development.

Bees for Development is a global charity ‘making life better with bees’. Members of their team join the OCC exhibit contributing a global pollinator perspective. While many orchids rely on highly specialised pollination strategies, the exhibit also reflects the wider role of pollinators in sustaining healthy ecosystems. Coinciding with World Bee Day on 20 May, Bees for Development will be meeting visitors and raising awareness of the critical importance of pollinators worldwide. The Charity’s work is supported by its President, Her Majesty The Queen, alongside a group of high-profile patrons including Martha Kearney CBE, Monty Don, who will hopefully be visiting the exhibit.

John Parke Wright IV, Founder and Chairman of Orchid Conservation Chelsea has a long and historic relationship with the People’s Republic of China, he said: “We are delighted to be returning to the Iconic Great Pavilion for RHS Chelsea 2026 and we are thrilled to have the Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Gardens and the Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden ( Hong Kong and South China ) at RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year to present our exhibit. Botanical research and education between the UK – China and the United States is vital to protecting our planet and building friendships and mutual understanding. Having China at RHS Chelsea Flower Show is a sign of continuing our work in China, that I began in the late 1970’s with Jardines”.

He continued: “The conservation and protection of habitats where orchids, plants and trees grow naturally is vital to our civilisation and well-being. As the largest family of vascular plants on Earth, orchids provide a powerful lens through which to understand biodiversity. Our exhibit at RHS Chelsea brings together conservationists from around the world to educate, inspire and encourage action — highlighting the urgent need to protect orchids in their natural habitats. We are hugely grateful to all our partners including in helping to create this year’s incredible The Orchids of China – Beauty & Conservation display.”

Conservation & scientific discussions between China, United States & UK
Dr. Lawrence W. Zettler Professor of Biology, Illinois College and Research Associate, Chicago Botanic Garden (USA) said: “China has a rich assemblage of native orchids numbering in excess of 1,800 species, of which nearly one quarter are found nowhere else on earth, and new species are discovered each year. China’s rich orchid diversity is attributed, in part, to its large geographical area that harbors many different habitats where these unique plants thrive. Many of these species are stunning to behold when they flower, exemplified by terrestrials such as Bletillas and Cypripediums that blanket the ground forming a colorful patchwork. In the southern warmer provinces, epiphytic species such as Cymbidiums add color to the trees they colonize high in the canopy. Our display this year serves as a living, breathing portal for experiencing some of China’s stunning native orchids as they would be viewed in their natural habitat. Our scientific team members are composed of leading experts from China and around the world, all dedicated to cultivating and conserving these remarkable plants for future generations to enjoy. Our display’s genius bar will be attended by our specialists to share their knowledge thereby promoting greater awareness.”

For more information:
Orchid Conservation Chelsea
https://growtropicals.com/pages/orchid-conservation-chelsea

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