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Orchids

• Orchid discovery

• Orchid conservation

• Orchid cultivation

• Orchid people

• Kew's orchid work

• Orchids at Kew

• Plant profiles

 

orchids in the Princess of Wales Conservatory

Orchids in the Princess of Wales Conservatory

 

 

Orchids

Orchids are among the most hauntingly beautiful of all flowers. They speak to us of tropical earthly paradises dripping with exotic splendour, but surprisingly they grow in a wide range of habitats from the colder reaches of the sub-Arctic to the tropical forests of the southern hemisphere! They are found everywhere from the edges of deserts to humid rainforests and have a preference for tropical mountain ranges!

Did you know?
8 per cent of all flowering plants are orchids

The 25,000 described species range from the subtle and dainty to the flamboyantly glamorous. Since orchids are the largest family of flowering plants it is easy for everyone to have a favourite of astonishing beauty.

About orchids

Plants linkOrchid discovery

Plants linkOrchid conservation

Plants linkOrchid cultivation

Plants linkOrchid people

Plants linkKew's orchid work

Plants linkMicropropagation

Plants linkOrchid conservation in Madagascar

Plants linkWhere to see orchids at Kew

Plants linkPlant profiles

Plants linkRed helleborine, Cephalanthera rubra

Plants linkPaphiopedilum sanderianum

Plants linkVanilla, Vanilla planifolia

 

More plants

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