Orchid Collection

A sprawling display of yellow, orange, and purple orchids inside a greenhouse.

An Orchid Odyssey

The orchid family is perhaps the largest in the plant kingdom, with 28,000 species and more than 100,000 artificial hybrids. Although it would be impossible for any one institution to build a complete collection, The Huntington houses one of the largest in the United States. The Huntington is one of the few botanical gardens to showcase all five orchid subfamilies, highlighting their remarkable evolution across every continent except Antarctica.

A black and white photo of a person in a greenhouse, holding a plant.

Arabella Huntington had a passion for orchids and amassed one of the finest private collections of her time in the early 1900s. It was sold, however, to a private collector following the stock market crash of 1929 to provide better financial stability for the institution. The Huntington would not start rebuilding its orchid collection for another 70 years.

William Hertrich, the first superintendent of The Huntington, created the framework for the Botanical Gardens and managed Arabella’s orchid collection as part of his responsibilities. At Hertrich’s suggestion, Henry E. Huntington visited many English orchid nurseries to purchase a variety of them to grow around the Huntingtons’ estate. Hertrich has been recognized as the first person to successfully experiment with the cultivation of the genus Cymbidium outdoors in California. Hertrich’s success with these plants led to the birth of many orchid nurseries throughout Southern California.

Orchid Collection Highlights

A stalk of lime-green flowers with red centers.

A large blooming orchid plant near an open trailer.

A close-up of a pink and white flower with yellow accents.

A hanging plant with many small green leaves and tiny white flowers.

A green plant in a pot, with many small yellow flowers.

A green plant with yellow flowers and long trailing petals.

A cluster of small yellow flowers emerging from a terracotta pot.

A cluster of white flowers against a backdrop of dense tropical foliage.

The Oldest Plant

Cymbidium lowianum ‘Huntington’ was the first orchid at The Huntington, brought from England in 1910 on William Hertrich’s recommendation. Originally planted in the rockery in front of the Huntington residence, it remains the oldest known orchid in California, thriving for over 115 years.

The Largest Plant

Cymbidium Pauwelsii ‘Kessander’ began 31 years ago from a single back bulb and is now one of the largest orchids by plant mass in the United States. Donated by Jerry Kessler and Susan Anderson, it traveled 3,021 miles to The Huntington. It bloomed in 2022 with 1,170 flowers on 43 spikes.

Orchid of the Year

Paphiopedilum micranthum ‘Huntington’s Perfection’ FCC/AOS earned the American Orchid Society’s First Class Certificate and received the prestigious Merritt W. Huntington Award as the Most Outstanding Orchid of 2015.

Most Flowers

Gravendeelia chamaelepanthes ‘Huntington’s Fireflies’ CCE/AOS. In 2015, this species bloomed with more than 1,200 flowers, earning a Certificate of Cultural Excellence from the American Orchid Society. Native to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, it thrives in climates ranging from warm to cool.

Smallest Flowers

Platystele stenostachya ‘Huntington’s Twinkle Star’ CBR/AOS is among the smallest flowering orchids in our collection, with blooms measuring just 0.2 cm wide by 0.4 cm tall. This delicate species is native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.

Largest Flowers

Phragmipedium Tall Tails ‘Huntington’s Gateway’ AM/AOS is one of our largest orchids, reaching 78 cm when in full bloom. This striking hybrid combines two South American species, showcasing impressive size and elegance.

Smelliest Blooms

Bulbophyllum phalaenopsis ‘Huntington’s Stinker’ AM/AOS has leaves that can grow up to 5 feet long. It is pollinated by carrion flies, attracting the insects with a fleshy appearance and a fetid odor reminiscent of a decaying animal.

Most Pleasantly Fragrant

Lycaste consobrina ‘Huntington’s Finest’ CCE/AOS is one of our most aromatic orchids. With 294 blooms, its scent is especially powerful. Native to the wet, montane forests of Mexico, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, this striking species showcases both beauty and fragrance in abundance.

Most Endangered

Epidendrum ilense, endemic to Ecuador, is now considered extinct in the wild. Six months after its discovery by botanist Calway Dodson, its habitat was cleared for agriculture. This loss reflects the broader impact of deforestation, which threatens countless plants and animal species with extinction.

Orchids with a Purpose

Orchids serve many purposes at The Huntington and offer the wider botanical community scientific, interpretive, aesthetic, and conservation value, as well as historical significance.

Researchers study the plants, collect tissue samples, and publish scientific discoveries based on specimens from the collection.
Educational displays provide opportunities for visitors to explore the world of orchids.
Rare plants in the collection are regularly pollinated and propagated so that they can be shared with other botanical gardens and orchid specialists around the United States.
Hybridizing orchids to create new varieties is an important focus of the orchid community. Breakthroughs in breeding pave the way for new types of orchids that can be of historic importance.

A closeup view of many tiny plants in a jar held in someone's hand. — A detail view from the Botanical Research Lab, where *Mexipedium xerophyticum* orchid seedlings grow in a flask containing agar with added nutrients to mimic the nutrition normally provided by mycorrhiza.

Related Events

An Orchid Family Tree

Three green plants in terra cotta pots in a greenhouse.

A close-up of a flower with yellow and pink petals.

A yellow flower with five points, and a pink and white center.

A small pink flower with yellow accents, on a plant with green leaves emerging from a pot.

A cluster of pink flowers on a stem, in a greenhouse with green foliage.

Subfamily Apostasioideae

These are primitive orchids with simple flowers. They evolved roughly 90 million years ago and are found primarily in Asia and Australia.

Subfamily Cypripedioideae

Known as “lady’s slipper orchids,” these are easily recognized by the distinctive pouch-shaped petal at the base of their flowers. This subfamily is about 70 million years old.

Subfamily Vanilloideae

This group evolved about 60 million years ago and includes vanilla orchids, the source of natural vanilla extract, along with other vine-like species. Most are found in tropical regions.

Subfamily Orchidoideae

These terrestrial orchids have existed for about 50 million years. They often grow from tubers, and many species thrive in temperate, Mediterranean-climate regions like Southern California.

Subfamily Epidendroideae

This is the largest subfamily of orchids, and it evolved about 40 million years ago. It includes thousands of mostly tropical species with highly diverse forms and growth habits. Many members are epiphytic, growing on trees, and feature specialized flowers adapted for intricate pollination strategies.

Orchid Collection Spotlight

A group of pink flowers on individual stems above dark green foliage.

Paphiopedilum

The Huntington holds the world’s most comprehensive collection of Paphiopedilum species, featuring 86 distinct species within that genus. Commonly called “lady’s slipper orchids,” these plants are known for flowers that have unique pouch-shaped lower petals that trap insects for pollination. Most of these orchids grow on the ground or among rocks and are native to Southeast Asia.

A large group of flower stalks, each with many orange flowers, over strappy green leaves, in a garden.

Cymbidium

The Huntington holds more than half of all known Cymbidium species, with more than 27 species represented. Prized for their long-lasting, fragrant flower spikes that are often used in floral arrangements, these orchids thrive in cooler climates and are found primarily in Asia and northern Australia.

A dense group of light-yellow hanging flowers.

Stanhopea

The Huntington holds 47 of the roughly 55 known Stanhopea species. This genus is celebrated for its large, fragrant flowers that typically bloom downward from the tree branches from which many grow in the wild or from hanging baskets in cultivation. Native to Mexico and Central and South America, they depend on specialized Euglossine bees for pollination.

A group of white and magenta flowers in a greenhouse with dense tropical foliage..

Cattleyas

Southern California has long been a hub for hybridizing and breeding Cattleya. Often called the “corsage orchid,” Cattleyas are prized for their showy, fragrant flowers that bloom in brilliant colors. Mostly epiphytic, they are native to tropical America and flourish in warm, humid climates.

Many small white and pink flowers on long green stems.

Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis are among the most popular orchids for beginners due to their long-lasting, elegant blooms that often resemble moths in flight, earning them the common name “moth orchids.” They are primarily epiphytic and native to Southeast Asia, where they thrive in warm, humid environments.

A close-up view of small white and pink flowers.

Mediterranean orchids

The Huntington maintains one of the most comprehensive collections of Mediterranean orchids. These terrestrial species thrive in the dry, sunny regions surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, producing striking flowers and enduring seasonal droughts through specialized adaptations.

A close-up view of a flower with one white petal, two pink petals, and one magenta petal.

Phragmipediums

Native to Central and South America, Phragmipediums, commonly known as “slipper orchids,” are prized for their large, pouch-shaped flowers in vivid colors and striking patterns. These orchids can grow on the ground, among rocks, or on tree branches, and they thrive in wet, shady habitat. The highlight of The Huntington’s collection is Phragmipedium kovachii, a spectacular species discovered in Peru in 2001 that drew worldwide attention.

A hanging plant with many thick strappy leaves, and white flowers that resemble tassels.

Bulbophyllum

The largest genus in the orchid family, Bulbophyllum includes more than 2,000 species that are found primarily in tropical regions worldwide. Known for their extraordinary diversity and often unusual flowers, these orchids produce pseudobulbs that store water and nutrients, enabling them to adapt to many habitats. The Huntington maintains one of the most diverse collections, with over 156 species within the genus represented.

Stories and Videos

How-To: Orchid Care

Associate Curator of Orchids, Brandon Tam, shares expert tips on how to care for your orchid. With a collection boasting over 1,500 unique species and 3,600 different varieties across 280 orchid genera, Brandon has unparalleled experience in orchid care.

Botanical Living Collections

About our core collections