https://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/orchids/RSS feed for OrchidsenTue, 16 Sep 2025 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/this-rare-endangered-orchid-only-exists-in-two-locations-can-dogs-cows-and-fungi-help-it-thrive-180987340/A Smithsonian ecologist is trying to restore the plant, Spiranthes delitescens, which grows on Arizona’s sky islandsTue, 16 Sep 2025 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/this-rare-endangered-orchid-only-exists-in-two-locations-can-dogs-cows-and-fungi-help-it-thrive-180987340/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/fantastical-art-joins-hundreds-of-blooming-orchids-to-shed-light-on-conservation-efforts-180983786/Smithsonian Gardens’ 28th annual orchid exhibition is underway at the Kogod CourtyardThu, 15 Feb 2024 13:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/fantastical-art-joins-hundreds-of-blooming-orchids-to-shed-light-on-conservation-efforts-180983786/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/is-this-endangered-orchid-last-of-its-kind-180982120/Contemplating the portentous history and uncertain fate of an exceptionally rare flowerTue, 16 May 2023 13:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/is-this-endangered-orchid-last-of-its-kind-180982120/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/vanilla-is-earths-most-preferred-smell-regardless-of-cultural-background-180979870/Some smells are perceived as more pleasant than others, which means preferences for certain odors could have evolutionary roots in our pastWed, 06 Apr 2022 18:34:47 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/vanilla-is-earths-most-preferred-smell-regardless-of-cultural-background-180979870/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/plastic-waste-can-be-transformed-vanilla-flavoring-study-shows-180978046/Researchers used microbes to convert plastic waste into the chemical additiveWed, 23 Jun 2021 16:57:01 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/plastic-waste-can-be-transformed-vanilla-flavoring-study-shows-180978046/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/extremely-rare-orchid-tricks-horny-beetles-carrying-its-pollen-180977332/The flower found in southern Africa releases a chemical so irresistible to longhorn beetles that they attempt to mate with it Thu, 25 Mar 2021 15:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/extremely-rare-orchid-tricks-horny-beetles-carrying-its-pollen-180977332/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/why-conservation-orchids-no-simple-matter-180968270/Smithsonian's Sidedoor podcast visits with researchers working to understand the conditions these threatened plants need to grow Wed, 28 Feb 2018 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/why-conservation-orchids-no-simple-matter-180968270/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/heres-how-horticulturalists-made-michelle-obama-orchid-180971565/This year’s orchid show takes over the cavernous naturally-lit Kogod Courtyard with thousands on view Wed, 27 Feb 2019 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/heres-how-horticulturalists-made-michelle-obama-orchid-180971565/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/meet-stinky-bucky-bulbophyllum-orchid-shutdown-smithsonian-greenhouse-180962924/Orchid expert Tom Mirenda says history records the stench of this plant as reminiscent of a thousand dead elephants rotting in the sunMon, 17 Apr 2017 20:27:24 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/meet-stinky-bucky-bulbophyllum-orchid-shutdown-smithsonian-greenhouse-180962924/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/orchids-as-performance-art-180962075/Washington's much-anticipated annual flower show moves to the Hirshhorn for the flora that loves to performWed, 08 Feb 2017 18:59:47 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/orchids-as-performance-art-180962075/