Orchids at Longwood Gardens
Orchids are among the largest and most diverse groups of flowering plants with more than 25 thousand species found around the world.
The Orchid House at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, is a place where one can view some stunning orchid specimens. Longwood features hundreds of beautiful potted orchids displayed in a newly restored gallery-like room on custom frame trellises. The garden's collection was started by founder Pierre S. du Pont and his wife, Alice, in the 1920s and now includes more than 5000 different plants representing 2000 different groups.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- The Orchid House at Longwood displays 250 to 300 different orchid plants at any time. They are hand-selected and rotated several times a week.
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- The gallery-like space which was restored in 2022 still includes a lot of the original bronze detailing and ironwork, but now includes a much more advanced system for maintaining the proper heat and humidity in the room.
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- Cattleya orchids are known for their large, fragrant flowers. This is x Rhyncholaeliocattleya Star of Bethlehem ‘Tall Oaks.’ It is an orchid hybrid from 1976.
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- A slipper orchid, specifically the lady slipper orchid, is characterized by its slipper-shaped pouch that resembles a shoe.
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- This slipper orchid, Paphiopedilum Maudiae ‘Magnificum’ is a unique green and white orchid with variegated leaves. It was first registered in 1900.
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- This is an Oncidium orchid, commonly known as a dancing lady orchid. These epiphytic plants are loved for their vibrant colors and unique flower shapes. This variety is Oncidium Lisa Devos.
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- Phalaenopsis I-Hsin Sesame ‘OX1178’ has fine red spots on white to cream colored petals. Phalaenopsis orchids are also called moth orchids and known for their long-lasting flat blooms.
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- This orchid is x Bratonia Pelican Lake ‘Talisman Cove’ – an interesting hybrid created in 1988. These hybrids are loved by orchid enthusiasts because of their unique and vibrant colors.
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- Another hybrid is x Lysudamuloa Yi-Ying Sakura. Many hybrid orchids are easier to care for than their parent species making them very popular for growers and orchid enthusiasts.
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- Phalaenopsis OX Red Sesame ‘OX1699’ features a charming blend of delicate and vibrant red and white blooms.
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- This unique specimen is Bulbophyllum rothschildianum ‘Red Chimney’ with large deep red umbells that emerge in late October to November. Bulbophyllum orchids have fringed petals, glossy textures and sometimes unique scents.
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- Here is a deep red slipper orchid Paphiopedilum King Arthur. These orchids thrive in bright, indirect light in temperatures from 65-degrees Fahrenheit to 80-degrees Fahrenheit whether indoors or out.
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- Another beautiful orchid is the Dendrobium Jaquelyn Thomas ‘Uniwai Supreme.’ This hybrid is part of a group of Jaquelyn Thomas orchids developed and cloned at the Universiry of Hawaii in the 1970s. The 18 to 24 inch flower spikes are topped with spoon shaped flowers in white, purple and pink.
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- This hybrid x Rhyncholaeliocattleya Greenwhich ‘Elmhurst’ is bright creamy yellow with a bold purple lip edge. Orchids are defined by their unique flower structure, specifically the reproductive parts which are fused into a single column and distinguishes them from other flowering plants.
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- Bulbophyllum Elizabeth Ann ‘Buckleberry’ stands out with its long drooping flowers and unique striped pattern.
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- This orchid is Miltoniopsis Mary Catherine Messina. These Miltoniopsis orchids are often known as the “Pansy Orchid” due to the large, fragrant flowers. Another unique feature of the orchid is their pollen which forms sticky balls called pollinia or pollen sacs.
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- This Phalaenopsis is Chi Yueh Four Peace. Notice, it features a third petal instead of a lip, which makes it rare and more sought-after by growers.
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- This Oncidium sotoanum is from South Mexico & Central America. The flowers are on arching to pendulous stems with numerous long-lasting, small pink flowers that are intensely fragrant.
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- And this is x Bratonia Charles M. Fitch ‘Izumi,’ with star-shaped flowers adorned with purple petals and a purple lip.
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- Miltoniopsis Hajime Ono ‘Standing Tall’ is also known for its fragrant blooms. The flowers have white and deep pink colored petals. This particular orchid variety is sensitive to drought and needs frequent watering to thrive.
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- There are so many different types of orchids to see and admire. If you love orchids as much as I do, and can visit the Orchid House at Longwood, please do so an talk to the experts – your visit will be informational and inspiring.
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