Glasgow Sends Rare Orchids to Chelsea Flower Show

Published: 23 May 2023

Rare orchids from Glasgow's Botanic Gardens are on display at the world's greatest flower show.

Glasgow City Council's orchids, ferns, begonias and other plants form part of an exhibition stand at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show which opened yesterday (Mon) in London.

Tiny rare West African orchids are among the plants on loan for display on a stand by J.P Wright & Company of Florida and Grow Tropicals highlighting the vital role orchids play as indicators of the health of wider ecosystems.

The display showcases the beauty and diversity of orchids while highlighting the importance of conserving their natural habitats. Visitors will be able to witness efforts to find and protect the rare Florida Ghost Orchid by a renowned global conservation team, along with endangered orchids from The Republic of Cameroon. A special highlight will also feature some of the 52 orchid varieties native to Britain.

Glasgow's Botanic Gardens were gifted a huge collection of orchids by Isobyl La Croix of the Royal Orchid Society in 2008 and the council is happy to have some of them included in the display at Chelsea. Plants loaned to the exhibit include a Resurrection Fern which grows in swamps alongside the Florida Ghost Orchid in the wild and Angraecum podochiloides which has tiny flowers smaller than a thumbnail. Numbers of this plant are declining in the wild and it is rare to find it being cultivated in the UK.

Christine Nicholson, Orchid Propagator at Glasgow's Botanic Gardens said: "It was great to be asked to supply plants for Chelsea which is world renowned and features the best growers and designers from around the globe. It is very exciting and I can't wait to see photos of the completed exhibition stand.

"We were asked to help when some plants for the display got delayed at customs and we were delighted to be able to assist. The plants will be returned to Glasgow when the Chelsea Flower Show closes."