Thursday 3 September 2026 is International Day of the Orchid. On this day, we celebrate the beauty and diversity of orchids around the world. It’s the perfect opportunity to take a closer look at these fascinating plants! Will you be celebrating International Day of the Orchid with us?

 

International Day of the Orchid 2026

The orchid is often referred to as the queen of the plant kingdom. It’s a truly special plant that deserves a day of its own. That’s why, since 2012, International Day of the Orchid has been celebrated every year on the first Thursday of September, putting the orchid and all its beauty and versatility in the spotlight.

 

25,000 orchid species

Did you know that there are more than 25,000 species of orchids worldwide? And new orchids are still being discovered! The butterfly orchid (Phalaenopsis) is the best-known variety, but there are so many more. Think of the tiger orchid (Oncidium), Vanda, pansy orchid (Miltonia), Dendrobium and slipper orchid (Paphiopedilum).

Orchids also come in an incredible range of colours, from white to deep shades of purple and everything in between. Some varieties even feature striped patterns or tiger-like markings. Whatever you can imagine, there’s probably an orchid to match!

 

 

Easy to care for

Another bonus: orchids are easy to care for. It’s relatively simple to keep your orchid healthy and looking beautiful, so you can enjoy it for a long time. The most important thing is to place your orchid somewhere with plenty of daylight, but away from direct sunlight. You only need to water it once a week by placing the plant in water for around 5 – 10 minutes. Let it drain thoroughly, and it’s ready to go back to its spot.

 

Also read: How to keep your orchid in perfect condition

 

Beauty that lasts

As well as their elegant appearance, incredible diversity and easy care, orchids also have an impressively long flowering period. They can easily flower for six to eight weeks, and some varieties even bloom for several months. So, as well as being a low-maintenance plant, the orchid is also a wonderfully rewarding one!

 

Keukenhof is the perfect place to celebrate spring in the Netherlands. The flower park in Lisse will be open for the 74th time from March 23, 2023. It’s one of the most beautiful attractions in The Netherlands and is visited by people from all over the world.

Also read: How to style the Colour of the Year 2023: Viva Magenta

 

Keukenhof 2023

Keukenhof will be open from Thursday 23 March to Sunday 14 May 2023. The 15 km hiking trails are laid out in such a way that you have a spectacular view of the fragrant flower gardens and flower greenhouses. During your walk, you will see unique, weekly changing flower shows, beautiful ponds and various pavilions with restaurants and terraces. In addition to the flower gardens, Keukenhof is also home to the largest sculpture park in the Netherlands. You can admire many images here, made by national and international artists.

Keukenhof displays flowers and blooming plants not only outdoors, but also indoors. In the Beatrix Pavilion, you can enjoy orchids in a wonderful colourful ambiance!

 

 

Theme 2023

Each year, Keukenhof has a special theme to which the designs of the gardens and the flower shows in the pavilions are inspired. Last year it was ‘Flower Classics’: a classic and timeless theme, and also a reference to art. In 2023, Keukenhof has no overarching theme. The flower shows will each have their own theme, making a visit to Keukenhof even more varied. In addition, flowers, colours and scents connect in any way; this is a theme in itself!

 

 

Practical information

Keukenhof is open from Thursday 23 March to Sunday 14 May 2023, from 8:00 am – 7:30 pm. More information and tickets can be found on their website.

Address:
Stationsweg 166A
2161 AM Lisse

 

Also read: The style trends for 2023 in the field of flowers and houseplants

Keukenhof is the perfect place to celebrate spring in the Netherlands. The flower park in Lisse will be open for the 75th time from March 21, 2024. It’s one of the most beautiful attractions in The Netherlands and is visited by people from all over the world.

Also read: This is Peach Fuzz: Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2024

 

Keukenhof 2024

Keukenhof will be open from Thursday 21 March to Sunday 21 May 2024. The 15 km hiking trails are laid out in such a way that you have a spectacular view of the fragrant flower gardens and flower greenhouses. During your walk, you will see unique, weekly changing flower shows, beautiful ponds and various pavilions with restaurants and terraces. In addition to the flower gardens, Keukenhof is also home to the largest sculpture park in the Netherlands. You can admire many images here, made by national and international artists.

Keukenhof displays flowers and blooming plants not only outdoors, but also indoors. In the Beatrix Pavilion, you can enjoy orchids in a wonderful colourful ambiance!

 

 

Practical information

Keukenhof is open from Thursday 21 March to Sunday 12 May 2024, from 8:00 am – 7:30 pm. More information and tickets can be found on their website.

Address:
Stationsweg 166A
2161 AM Lisse

 

Also read: Boost your wellbeing with long lasting and colorful orchids

Keukenhof is the perfect place to celebrate spring in the Netherlands. The flower park in Lisse will be open from March 20, 2025. It’s one of the most beautiful attractions in The Netherlands and is visited by people from all over the world.

Also read: These are the orchid shows of 2025

 

Keukenhof 2025

Keukenhof will be open from Thursday 20 March to Sunday 11 May 2025. The 15 km hiking trails are laid out in such a way that you have a spectacular view of the fragrant flower gardens and flower greenhouses. During your walk, you will see unique, weekly changing flower shows, beautiful ponds and various pavilions with restaurants and terraces. In addition to the flower gardens, Keukenhof is also home to the largest sculpture park in the Netherlands. You can admire many images here, made by national and international artists.

Keukenhof displays flowers and blooming plants not only outdoors, but also indoors. In the Beatrix Pavilion, you can enjoy orchids in a wonderful colourful ambiance!

 

 

Practical information

Keukenhof is open from Thursday 20 March to Sunday 11 May 2025, from 8:00 am – 7:30 pm. More information and tickets can be found on their website.

Address:
Stationsweg 166A
2161 AM Lisse

 

Also read: Boost your wellbeing with long lasting and colorful orchids

Orchids are among the most beloved and fascinating flowers in the world. With no less than 25,000 different species and an unparalleled variety of colors, shapes, and scents, they continue to captivate people everywhere. It is no surprise that orchid shows are immensely popular worldwide. These events attract thousands of enthusiasts every year, who are inspired by the beauty and diversity of these long-blooming plants. In 2025, there will once again be several stunning orchid shows in Europe and beyond. We have listed them for you!

 

Orchids | London, United Kingdom

Kew Gardens hosts the annual Orchid Festival, this time with a theme focused on the flora and fauna of Peru. The festival takes place in the Princess of Wales Conservatory and highlights Peru’s rich biodiversity, which includes more than 3,000 orchid species and diverse ecosystems.

• Date: February 1 – March 2, 2025
• Location: Princess of Wales Conservatory, Kew Gardens
• More information: www.kew.org

 

 

Mille et une Orchidées | Paris, France

The exhibition Mille et une Orchidées is an annual event held in the Grandes Serres of the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. For the 12th edition, taking place from February 6 to March 10, 2025, the focus is on the natural habitats of orchids. Visitors can admire a lush scenography that highlights the diversity of this fascinating plant family.

• Date: February 6 – March 10, 2025
• Location: Grandes Serres du Jardin des Plantes, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France
• More information: www.jardindesplantesdeparis.fr

 

 

Keukenhof | Lisse, Netherlands

Every year, Keukenhof hosts an impressive orchid and anthurium exhibition in the Beatrix Pavilion. This show is known as the largest orchid show in Europe and offers a colorful and surprising display with thousands of different orchid flowers. Keukenhof is a world-famous attraction and the perfect place to celebrate spring in the Netherlands.

• Date: March 20 – May 11, 2025
• Location: Keukenhof, Stationsweg 166A, 2161 AM Lisse
• More information: www.keukenhof.nl

 

 

Orchid Extravaganza | Singapore

This summer, the unique orchid show Orchid Extravaganza will take place at the iconic Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. Covering approximately 101 hectares, the park is famous for its futuristic Supertree Grove, impressive conservatories (such as the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest), and beautiful gardens. Gardens by the Bay aims to transform Singapore into a “City in a Garden” by combining greenery with innovation. Orchid Extravaganza celebrates their national flower, the orchid, and takes visitors on a floral-themed journey through Singapore’s cultural heritage and community spirit.

• Date: August 1 – August 31, 2025
• Location: Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953
• More information: www.gardensbythebay.com

 

 

Glowing Garden: a fascinating show by Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde

Glowing Garden is a concept by Studio Roosegaarde and invites people to step into a surreal world seen through the eyes of a butterfly. With hundreds of orchids and other carefully selected flowers, Glowing Garden uses specific lighting technology to make these flowers glow, revealing an invisible aspect of nature. The show is not yet available to visit in real life, but here’s a preview:

 

Read more:  Glowing Garden; a fascinating show by Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde

Glowing Garden is a concept by Studio Roosegaarde that invites people to step into a surreal world, seen through the eyes of a butterfly. Featuring hundreds of orchids and other carefully selected flowers, Glowing Garden utilizes specific light technology to make these flowers glow, revealing an unseen aspect of nature.

(more…)

Keukenhof is world-famous and the place to celebrate spring in the Netherlands. The renowned flower exhibition in Lisse opens its doors on 19 March, once again marking the start of the Dutch spring season. People from all over the world flock to this unique park — and for good reason.

Read also: Orchids grace the Maison et Objet design fair in Paris

 

The route through Keukenhof

Along 15 kilometres of walking paths, you can enjoy spectacular flower fields, fragrant gardens and stunning ponds. Weekly changing flower shows, various pavilions with restaurants and terraces, and impressive greenhouses make every route through Keukenhof an experience in itself.

 

 

Orchids in the Juliana Pavilion

This year, the orchid product group has an exciting new location at Keukenhof: the Juliana Pavilion. The pavilion has been transformed into a fully immersive orchid experience centre. Through large digital screens, visitors can dive deep into the fascinating world of orchids — from tropical rainforests to the most extraordinary varieties the world has to offer. A unique way to discover orchids from an entirely new perspective.

 

 

Practical information

Keukenhof is open from Thursday 19 March to Sunday 10 May 2026. For more information and tickets, visit www.Keukenhof.nl.

 

Address:
Stationsweg 166A
2161 AM Lisse

Read also: Boost your wellbeing with long-flowering, colourful orchids

From a distance Oncidium looks like a green plant with a radiant flowering crown, but up close this beautiful lady turns out to be wearing a host of small flowers. Oncidium also has the very wild name of tiger orchid, because the flowers often come in yellow and brown.

Styling

Oncidium’s bright flowers require a suitable counterbalance at the bottom: black shiny porcelain or dark red ceramic show the colour at its best, as does wood for those who prefer a natural style statement.

Orchid of the month

Every month we present a new orchid of the month. Want to find out which orchid it will be next month? Take a look at the list.

Racy markings, elegant spots and a graceful shape make Zygopetalum an orchid that wouldn’t look out of place on the catwalk.

Orchid Zygopetalum

 

Symbolism

The name is derived from the ancient Greek word ‘zygon’, which means yoke and refers to the two protruding petals. In Greek mythology Zygo is the ‘firstborn river’ from which all other rivers sprang. The rivulet pattern (also known as the delta) on the orchid’s lip refers to this. Ever since it was introduced in its cultivated form in 1880, the plant has symbolised ‘a spiritual connection between people who belong together’, just like the various petals and lip belong together.

Read also: What is the meaning of orchids?

 

Origin

 

Care tips:

• Position: preferably light, but no direct sunlight.
• Immerse the pot for half an hour with a small dose of orchid food once every 10 to 14 days, then leave to drain thoroughly.
• If the air indoors is very dry, e.g. because of central heating, it’s best to mist an orchid’s buds every day. This prevents them from drying out and not opening.
• The orchid will keep looking its best with some ‘benign neglect’. Remove wilted flowers, but otherwise leave the plant alone.
• After flowering cut off the flower stem at the bottom. Zygopetalum will produce fresh flowers from a new stem. This does require patience: it can take 8 to 12 months.

 

Source: Thejoyofplants.co.uk

 

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