The Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection includes tropical, sub-tropical and temperate orchid species and hybrids of epiphytic, lithophyte and terrestrial plants. Smithsonian Gardens cultivates 6,000 accessions that represent more than 2,000 unique taxa. Well represented groups include New world genera such as Cattleya, Cymbidium, Oncidium, Paphiopedilum, as well as Asian species of Bulbophyllum and Dendrobium.

Browse images of our Orchid Collection here!View our full Orchid Collection inventory here!

3D Scanning

The Smithsonian’s Digitization Program Office partnered with Smithsonian Gardens to create free 3D models of some our our accession items within the Orchid Collection. 3D data can help scientists and researchers examine materials from new perspectives. Explore fascinating 3D scans of some of our Orchid Collection items here!

Orchid Collection Highlights

Yellow-orange, thin petaled orchid flower on black background
White orchid flower with maroon veins with green leaves behind
Vivid red orchid flowers on a black background
Green and brown striped orchid flowers with a pale pink lip of Epidendrum stamfordianum on black background
Green and brown slipper orchid flower on stem which cuts diagonally across frame, black background
Yellow orchid flowers with narrow petals, but two broad, red lower petals, black background
Beetle-like brown and yellow orchid flower with background of green leaves and black

Video Resources

Check out this tour of a special part of our orchid collection!

Take a behind the scenes look at how we manage the Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection: