Kew Gardens’ iconic Orchid festival returns for 2023

Back bigger and better than ever for 2023, Kew Gardens’ much-loved Orchid festival returns to the Princess of Wales Conservatory from Saturday 4 February to Sunday 5 March 2023.

Taking inspiration from the beauty and biodiversity of Cameroon, Orchids 2023 is a vibrant celebration of colour to brighten up the winter months. It is the first time Kew’s Orchid festival will celebrate an African nation. Encompassing a series of stunning horticultural displays and living sculptures, the festival takes places across the ten different climatic zones which make up Kew’s state-of-the-art Princess of Wales Conservatory, replicating a series of fascinating global ecosystems under one roof.  

Stunning displays 

Orchids 2023 will highlight the varied landscapes and native wildlife of Cameroon, with larger-than-life sculptures hand-crafted by a team of expert horticulturists from real plants and an amazing array of colourful orchids. Visitors can encounter towering giraffe sculptures and a troop of gorillas, alongside magnificent roaring lions and wallowing hippo arrangements, highlighting the incredible biodiversity and awe-inspiring wildlife of this West African nation.  

Bikoka Art Project Exhibition 

As part of the festival, art critic and historian Christine Eyene will curate a photography exhibition from the Bikoka Art Project, a new independent initiative dedicated to providing artistic and professional opportunities to the next generation of creatives in Lolodorf, Cameroon. Spanning the South End of the Princess of Wales Conservatory, capturing everyday scenes and spectacular landscapes from Lolodorf and beyond. 

A taste of Cameroon 

For the first time, Cameroonian chef Carine Ottou will be creating selection of brand-new, exclusive dishes for Kew’s cafes and restaurants. Carine’s early life was filled with the vibrancy of West African food, with the flavours and colours of Cameroon instilling a passion for fresh ingredients and spices which remain an essential element of her work today. Her guest menus across Kew’s eateries will capture the essence of Cameroonian cuisine, using an array of fresh ingredients and fantastic flavour combinations for visitors to enjoy.  

Orchids After Hours will also return, on Friday 10, Saturday 11, Friday 17 and Saturday 18 February. Allowing exclusive access to the Princess of Wales Conservatory after dark, these curated evening events will feature live performances, cocktails and cookery demonstrations.  

Solene Dequiret, Supervisor of the Princess of Wales Conservatory at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew says: "We always look forward to the return of the Orchid festival and this year we are excited to welcome visitors to enjoy a host of stunning displays inspired by the wonderful flora and fauna of Cameroon. The Orchid festival is always the perfect antidote to the chillier days of winter and provides us with a wonderful opportunity to showcase a selection of incredible plants which transform the Princess of Wales Conservatory, as well as allowing us to highlight the vital work of our science colleagues and partners working in Cameroon, alongside some incredible visual art.” 

Mary-Anne Daly, Chief Executive, Cazenove Capital commented: “I have enjoyed many visits to Kew over the years and have long admired the remarkable biodiversity research undertaken by its scientists. Cazenove Capital is delighted to support their invaluable work through our sponsorship of Kew’s 27th Orchid Festival, as part of our commitment to protect nature and biodiversity. I look forward to seeing the fantastic display in the Princess of Wales Conservatory when the event opens in February.” 

RBG Kew and Cameroon 

RBG Kew works with partners across Cameroon on several vital scientific and research projects, including collaborating with the National Herbarium of Cameroon and others to identify Important Plant Areas (IPAs) in the country. This assessment offers a practical, rigorous means of identifying priority areas for site-based conservation and ensuring the long-term survival of Cameroon’s endemic, threatened and socio-economically important plant species. Recent fieldwork has focussed on Central, South and Littoral Regions and has been combined with collecting seed of threatened tree species. 

Since 2004, scientists at Kew have also been working with partners to document the biodiversity of Cameroon’s Ebo Forest with a view to designating the area as Important Plant Areas. The Ebo Forest, one of the largest intact rainforests in Cameroon, is home to an incredible array of wildlife, including the only population of chimpanzee species that use twigs to fish out termites, and stones to crack open nuts. Researchers have also uncovered an incredible diversity of plant life in Ebo forest. By 2020, 14 plant species new-to-science have been discovered in Ebo (with more yet to be named) and over 75 threatened species of plants have been recorded there.  Threatened species from this area include several plants known only from Ebo forest, such as Inversodicraea ebo, found on rocks within river rapids, and Kupeantha ebo, a small tree related to coffee.  

At the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, we’re dedicated to harnessing the power of plants and fungi to end the extinction crisis and secure a future for all life on Earth. With Kew’s world-leading research, global partnerships and beloved gardens – home to the world’s most diverse collections of plants and fungi – we’re using our trusted voice to shape policy and practice worldwide. As a charity we rely on the critical support of our visitors, not only to sustain the gardens, but to protect global plant and fungal biodiversity for the benefit of our planet and humanity.