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.

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.