Pictures of Rare Orchids at the Chicago Botanic Garden

With delightful tendrils and multi-floral spikes up to two ft. tall, this exotic orchid will be one of 10,000 to warm the hearts of visitors during the coldest days of winter at the Chicago Botanic Garden's first annual Orchid Show.

Photo: Image courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

Scroll For More Photos

1 / 20

Paphiopedilum 'Chiu Hua Dancer'

Towards the end of winter, when most people have a serious case of the winter blues, The Chicago Botanic Garden brightens the world with its annual Orchid Show. These aren't your typical supermarket orchids, this show brings together over 10,000 blooms of the rarest, most exotic orchids from around the world. If you can't make it to Chicago in February, enjoy this virtual tour of some of the prettiest florals we've ever seen.

First up: With delightful tendrils and multi-floral spikes up to two feet tall, the Paphiopedilum 'Chiu Hua Dancer' is one of the most unique orchids in the show.

Photo: Image courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

2 / 20

Phalaenopsis 'Timothy Christopher'

The Chicago Botanic Garden is transformed into a tropical paradise every year with inspiring displays of, among others, multi-floral miniature orchids such as the Phalaenopsis 'Timothy Christopher'.

How to Grow and Care for Orchids

3 / 20

Darwin's Orchid (Angraecum sesquipedale)

Could it have been their intoxicating scent that first caught the attention of Charles Darwin?

This exotic orchid looks like it could use a shave and gains its name from the wild-hair Medusa found in Greek mythology. Like many other flowers in the Orchidaceae family, this one is epiphytic, meaning it can grow without soil.

Photo: Image courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

4 / 20

Bulbophyllum medusae 'Miami'

This exotic orchid looks like it could use a shave and gains its name from the wild-haired Medusa from Greek mythology. Like many other flowers in the Orchidaceae family, this one is epiphytic, meaning it can grow without soil.

Leave wintery thoughts of snow boots behind and behold these heartwarming yellow lady's slippers. Typically found in moist and woody areas throughout the world, visitors to the Chicago Botanic Orchid Show will find them cleverly displayed throughout the Regenstein Center Greenhouses and Gallery.

Photo: Image courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

5 / 20

Cypripedium calceolus

Leave wintery thoughts of snow boots behind and behold these heartwarming yellow lady's slippers. These orchids are typically found in moist and woody areas throughout the world.

This sunny orchid actually likes to hide from the sun but otherwise is easy on the eyes and easy to grow. Their flowers last up to two months and make it a wonderful plant to own for new orchid enthusiasts.

Photo: Image courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

6 / 20

Degarmoara 'Stars and Bars'

This sunny orchid actually likes to hide from the sun but otherwise is easy on the eyes and easy to grow. Their flowers last up to two months and make it a wonderful plant to own for new orchid enthusiasts.

These pink beauties like to let their roots show as many epiphytic orchids require no growing medium to thrive.

Photo: Image courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

7 / 20

Ascocentrum 'Mona Church'

These pink beauties like to let their roots show, as many epiphytic orchids require no growing medium to thrive.

How to Grow and Care for Orchids

Its common name might be the Large-Leafed Dendrobium, but its uncommon beauty makes it one of the most celebrated flowers in the orchid world. It grows throughout the jungles of the Pacific Islands but will be on display in the steamy greenhouses during the Chicago Botanic Garden's first Orchid Show.

Photo: Image courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

8 / 20

Dendrobium macrophyllum

Its common name might be the large-leaved Dendrobium, but its uncommon beauty makes it one of the most celebrated flowers in the orchid world.

What's Your Birth Month Flower?

These are not fire-breathing dragon orchids but they are hot! Especially since they are so easy to grow and so pretty to behold. The flowers can last for up to three months making them a favorite among orchid lovers.

Photo: Image courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

9 / 20

Encyclia cordigera 'Dragon Mouth'

These orchids aren't fire-breathing dragons, but they are hot! Especially since they are so easy to grow and so pretty to behold—the flowers can last for up to three months, making them a favorite among orchid lovers.

Fragrant and delicate as a ballerina, this miniature terrestrial orchid comes from Southeast Asia but makes for an easy-to-grow windowsill addition to any collection. Added bonus: It also happens to have an especially long-lasting bloom time, 6-8 weeks!

Photo: Image courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

10 / 20

Habenaria erichmichelii

Fragrant and delicate as a ballerina, this miniature terrestrial orchid comes from Southeast Asia but makes for an easy-to-grow windowsill addition to any collection. Added bonus: It also happens to have an especially long-lasting bloom time, 6-8 weeks!

How to Grow Tropical Plants Indoors

The flowers of this Madagascar native look like small white moths. The leaves are sometimes used in creating teas and its essential oils are combined to produce some of the most heavenly perfumes. Nothing takes the sting out of winter like the beauty and balance of these delicate darlings of the orchid world.

Photo: Image courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

11 / 20

Jumellea fragrans

The flowers of this Madagascar native look like small white moths. The leaves are sometimes used in creating teas and its essential oils are combined to produce some of the most heavenly perfumes. Nothing takes the sting out of winter like the beauty and balance of these delicate darlings of the orchid world.

Some like it hot! Especially these heat-loving orchids from the jungles of Brazil. With deep plum flowers and a distinctive black licorice fragrance, these spring-summer bloomers are easy on the eyes as well as the nose.

Photo: Image courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

12 / 20

Miltonia spectabilis 'Moreliana'

Some like it hot! Especially these heat-loving orchids from the jungles of Brazil. With deep plum flowers and a distinctive black licorice fragrance, these spring-summer bloomers are easy on the eyes as well as the nose.

If you like the look of a pansy you'll love catching a glimpse, and a whiff, of the Miltoniopsis. These are humid-loving darlings thrive with moderate light and consistently moist conditions.

Photo: Image courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

13 / 20

Miltoniopsis

If you like the look of a pansy, you'll love catching a glimpse—and a whiff—of miltoniopsis. These are humid-loving darlings that thrive with moderate light and consistently moist conditions.

Many orchid lovers enjoy the firework appearance of these white miniatures that bloom all summer. Often referred to as the Japanese Wind Orchid, these little wonders will lift the spirit of any winter-weary soul.

Photo: Image courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

14 / 20

Neofinetia falcate

Many orchid lovers enjoy the firework appearance of these white miniatures that bloom all summer. Often referred to as the Japanese Wind Orchid, these little wonders will lift the spirit of any winter-weary soul.

This orchid is as sunny as a summer's day and smells good too!  with multiple stems and an abundance of blooms, this guy really makes a statement.

Photo: Image courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

15 / 20

Odontonia Yellow Parade 'Alpine'

This hybrid orchid is as sunny as a summer's day and smells good too! With multiple stems and an abundance of blooms, this guy really makes a statement.

These fragrant flowers are commonly known as the Silver Slipper Orchid. They begin to show their colors March through May...just the perfect accent after a long and dreary winter.

Photo: Image courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

16 / 20

Paphiopedilum micranthum

These fragrant flowers are commonly known as the Silver Slipper Orchid. They begin to show their colors March through May—the perfect accent after a long and dreary winter.

Photo: Image courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

17 / 20

Phaius tankervilleae 'Rabin's Raven'

Orchid fans love this easy-to grow species for it many wonderful attributes. Its upright, fragrant flowers grow on elegant long stems and its blooms can last for several months with minimal care.

If you want color month after month this is the orchid for you. With flowers that open in sequence after the first blossom is spent, this yellow and mahogany show off is a perfect addition to a full-scale orchid show or a quiet windowsill.

Photo: Image courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

18 / 20

Psychopsis 'Kalihi'

If you want color month after month, this is the orchid for you. With flowers that open in sequence after the first blossom is spent, this yellow and mahogany show-off is a perfect addition to an unadorned windowsill.

Purple velvet is the only way to describe the impact of this stunning orchid. Vandas are native to hot, humid, tropical areas of Southeast Asia. They shiver at the very mention of snow and otherwise do not tolerate cool temperatures.

Photo: Image courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

19 / 20

Vanda 'Lumpini Red'

Purple velvet is the only way to describe the impact of this stunning orchid. Vandas are native to hot, humid, tropical areas of Southeast Asia. They shiver at the very mention of snow and do not tolerate cool temperatures.

The name says it all for this explosive, cascading orchid with tiny burgundy blooms. Give these orchids plenty of indirect light and moist conditions and they'll put on a memorable and long-lasting show. The Wilsonara, along with more than 10,000 orchids, will be artistically presented for the first time at the Chicago Botanic Garden Orchid Show, February 15 to March 16.

Photo: Image courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

20 / 20

Wilsonara Aloha Sparks 'Fireworks'

The name says it all for this explosive, cascading orchid with tiny burgundy blooms. Give these orchids plenty of indirect light and moist conditions and they'll put on a memorable, long-lasting show.

How to Arrange Grocery Store Orchids Like a Pro (and Keep Them Alive)

20 Exotic Orchid Varieties

Paphiopedilum 'Chiu Hua Dancer'

Phalaenopsis 'Timothy Christopher'

Darwin's Orchid (Angraecum sesquipedale)

Bulbophyllum medusae 'Miami'

Cypripedium calceolus

Degarmoara 'Stars and Bars'

Ascocentrum 'Mona Church'

Dendrobium macrophyllum

Encyclia cordigera 'Dragon Mouth'

Habenaria erichmichelii

Jumellea fragrans

Miltonia spectabilis 'Moreliana'

Miltoniopsis

Neofinetia falcate

Odontonia Yellow Parade 'Alpine'

Paphiopedilum micranthum

Phaius tankervilleae 'Rabin's Raven'

Psychopsis 'Kalihi'

Vanda 'Lumpini Red'

Wilsonara Aloha Sparks 'Fireworks'

Related Pages