Orchids held a special place in the hearts of Pierre S. and Alice du Pont, both of whom were founding members of the American Orchid Society. Their passion for these beautiful plants endures today with our dynamic display in the Orchid House.
Over the years, passionate orchid collectors have enriched our collection through generous donations. Notable gifts include 2,314 orchids from Mrs. W.K. du Pont’s personal collection in 1948, 274 orchids from Mrs. Lammot du Pont Copeland of Mt. Cuba Center in 2001, and, in 2015, 236 Restrepia and Zootrophion specimens from dedicated volunteer Duane Erdmann.
Today, the Orchid Collection includes a wide range of tropical and hardy species, cultivars and hybrid selections of the family Orchidaceae, as well as terrestrial orchids native to our region. It is one of our collections in terms of number of accessions and numbers of plants.
In addition to their cultural and historical significance at Longwood, orchids hold critical conservation value. Nearly 60 percent of assessed species are threatened with extinction, facing increased pressures from habitat loss and changing environmental conditions. Gardens like Longwood play a vital role in safeguarding their future through living collections and seed banks. Pennsylvania’s native orchids are similarly at risk, particularly from habitat loss and overbrowsing by white-tailed deer, further underscoring the critical value of this conservation work.
Given the vast scope of the overall Orchid Collection, the following sub-collections are recognized, with ongoing efforts to define and refine their development.
Historical Cattleya Hybrids and Cultivars Sub-collection
Cattleyas were favorites of Alice B. du Pont; her interest was commemorated when a Cattleya hybrid was named in her honor. This sub-collection preserves historically significant hybrids and cultivars, primarily those predating 1950—many of which have become rare in commercial horticulture. This sub-collection fulfills heritage, display, educational, germplasm preservation, and conservation functions.
Disa Sub-collection
Longwood Gardens was the first institution in the United States to cultivate Disa uniflora, acquiring the original plants from Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden through the leadership of former Longwood Director, Dr. Russell Seibert. The current sub-collection not only honors Seibert's legacy, but also underscores Longwood's dedication to excellence in horticultural innovation and germplasm preservation. These striking orchids bloom in the summer months—offering vibrant display potential when few other orchids are in flower. This sub-collection fulfills heritage, display, educational, germplasm preservation, and conservation functions.
US Native Orchid Conservation Sub-collection
Longwood was founded on the principle of conservation, beginning with the initial land purchased by Pierre S. du Pont to protect the collection of historic trees in Peirce's Park in 1906. Our legacy of preservation joins past with present in our US Native Orchid Conservation Sub-collection. It includes Pierre's first orchid purchase, Galearis spectabilis (showy orchis), a common native orchid that continues to thrive at Longwood Gardens. This sub-collection is dedicated to the preservation of endangered, rare, or threatened native orchid species from Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic region. These plants contribute to the conservation of native flora while enhancing display areas both in outdoor areas and the conservatories. Plants are obtained through seed propagation and cultivation research.
