Plan Your Visit

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Orchid Extravaganza is an extraordinary blend of horticulture and artistry, showcasing 5,000 orchids displayed in many artistic forms. Wander through our 4-acre Conservatory to discover hanging orbs, a tiered chandelier, an overflowing archway, and urns full of colorful orchids. Explore our Orchid House where our historic collection of diverse species and hybrids are displayed in bloom.

Orchid Extravaganza: Beyond amazing.

Orchids were one of the first collections our founder, Pierre S. du Pont, and his wife, Alice, developed for the Gardens. To celebrate this history we present Orchid Extravaganza every year, January through March. Longwood’s Orchid Collection has more than 2,300 different kinds of orchids (hybrids and species). We collect the showiest and most unusual types of species and hybrids for diversity. Longwood’s collection consists of nearly 9,000 plants.

The Orchid House displays the best of Longwood’s orchids when they are flowering. Three times a week, staff chooses the best blooming orchids from our collection to display. In all, 200-300 orchids are on display every day of the year.

Longwood grows its orchids in five different greenhouses with specific lighting, temperatures and humidity to mimic their original native regions. Longwood’s collection includes specimens from across the world.

Please note that actual bloom times may vary depending on weather. The list of flowering highlights is subject to change.

General Indoor Highlights

• Acacia
• Amaryllis
• Begonias
• Weeping Bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis)
• Bugloss (Echium)
• Buttercup (Ranunculus)
• Butterfly-bush (Buddleja)
• Christmas-pride (Ruellia macrantha)
• Cliva
• Longwood Hybrid Cinerarias (Pericallis)
• Coleus
• Delphiniums
• Eupatorium
• Forget-me-nots (Myosotis sylvatica)
• Freesia
• Geraniums (Pelargonium)
• Gladiolus
• Hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis)
• Cape Cowslip (Lachenalia)
• Lilies
• Marguerite (Argyranthemum frutescens)
• Narcissus
• Orchids
• Pansies (Viola)
• Primroses (Primula)
• Queen's tears (Billbergia nutans)
• Roses
• Snapdragons (Antirrhinum)
• Stocks (Matthiola)
• Broom (Cytisus x spachianus)
• Tulips
• Velvet Groundsel (Roldana petasitis)
• Winter Red-hot-poker (Veltheimia bracteata)

General Outdoor Highlights

• Conifers
• Glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa)
• Hollies (Ilex)
• Siberian Squills (Scilla siberica)
• Tomasini's Crocus (Crocus tommasinianus)
• Topiaries
• Winter Aconites (Eranthis hyemalis)
• Witch-hazels (Hamamelis)