Orchid Collection

A collection of tropical, sub-tropical and temperate Orchidaceae encompassing terrestrial, epiphytic and lithophytic species.

The Cattkeya trianae orchid at Kew Gardens

Location: Tropical Nursery, Princess of Wales Conservatory, Palm House and Temperate House. Hardy species in the Rock Garden and wildflower areas

Taxa: 2,500  Accessions: 4,500  Wild-sourced: 27%

Geographic strengths: Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Africa, Madagascar and Cambodia

Taxonomic strengths: National scientific collection of Maxillaria; generic collections of Paphiopedilum, Bulbophyllum, Oncidium and Oeoniella

Notable specimens: Dendrobium forbesii (New Guinea); the Critically Endangered Epidendrum montserratense (endemic to Montserrat, Caribbean); the Critically Endangered Paphiopedilum druryi (endemic to South India and only found as small colonies in the Agastyamala Hills); and Phaius tankervilleae (linked to eighteenth century collections and the first tropical terrestrial orchids brought to flowering at Kew); 600 accessions are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species