Hong Kong display strikes gold at Chelsea Flower Show with rare orchids

The Chelsea Flower Show, held in London every summer for more than a century, is a British institution drawing around 150,000 gardening enthusiasts to enjoy spectacular floral displays. This year, there was an exhibit with a difference, featuring rare orchids from Hong Kong and other parts of Asia and the Pacific. The vibrant display, with orchids from Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden in the New Territories, won a coveted gold medal and was visited by Queen Camilla. It also sent a powerful message about the need to protect the ecologically significant but endangered plants. “We have got 150,000 bees in to look at the orchids,” said John Parke Wright IV, chairman of Orchid Conservation Chelsea, referring to the show’s visitors. “They are being pollinated with ideas about conservation and why it is important.” Wright, who knows China well having worked for Jardine Matheson in the 1970s, was instrumental in forming the orchid group, comprising 25 institutions globally. He began by helping protect orchids in his Florida homeland and one created to mark the late Queen Elizabeth’s platinum jubilee was presented at the flower show in 2022. This was Wright’s inspiration for gathering together more than 60 orchid experts to discuss and promote conservation, manning a genius bar at the exhibit. “We realised we had a very good platform at the Chelsea Flower Show to carry the conservation message worldwide,” Wright said, adding that it had become a “labour of love” that had changed their lives. The display, in the grand pavilion, in partnership with Britain’s Kew Gardens and the Royal Horticultural Society, showcased orchids from Hong Kong and elsewhere in south China, Singapore, Hawaii and Australia. Carrying an educational message, it contrasted with the event’s more traditional, ornamental installations and attracted many visitors. A student from Guizhou, now living in the United Kingdom, who did not wish to be named, said: “It is great to have species native to China gaining attention in the West and raising awareness overseas.” Stephan Gale, head of the flora conservation department at Kadoorie Farm, prepared the display with horticultural foreman Candy Ip. Gale said he hoped the medal-winning exhibit would fuel interest and concern about the need to protect orchids. “It is brilliant the judges liked it,” he said. “A lot of people are there to get inspiration for their garden. Hopefully it is making them think and opening a door to something they have not heard about before.” Kadoorie Farm was a pioneer in identifying and protecting orchids in China. Work began in the 1970s and is now considered to be more important than ever. There are around 27,000 species of orchid around the world, with 136 in Hong Kong. But many of them are in danger of extinction as a result of the degradation of their habitat or from poaching. Orchids are crucial indicators of ecological health, seen as environmental “canaries in the coal mine”. One species on display at the show, the long-eared dog orchid, is only found in very small numbers at 12 locations in Asia, nine of which are in Hong Kong. Gale said: “Hong Kong is the final stronghold.” Studies revealed those in Hong Kong could not produce seeds through self-pollination. They rely, instead, on a specific fly but the process will almost certainly not occur, as their locations are remote and far apart. Kadoorie Farm has raised a new generation of the plants in its nurseries through hand pollination and micropropagation. Last year, it secured permission from the government for the first time to reintroduce the plants to the wild. “This is massive for us. It is a bit of a precedent. We have never done it before,” Gale said. The aim of the exhibit was to promote public awareness of the need to protect the plants. “Plants are highly neglected. They are just the green things in the background,” Gale said. “People should slow down a bit. Immerse yourself in nature. Look a bit closer and appreciate their beauty. Show compassion to the natural world.” Melissa McCormick, director of the North American Orchid Conservation Centre in the United States, said: “Awareness is very important. People conserve what they know they are interested in. They often don’t even know the orchids are there.” Jason Downing, director of research at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Florida, said it was important to highlight “these jewels of the forest”. “Most orchids are considered endangered in their habitat in the world. We are doing urgent work,” he added. Richard Deverell, director of the UK’s Royal Botanic Gardens, at Kew, highlighted ties with China when speaking at a reception for “friends of Hong Kong” at the show. He noted that the relationship between Kew Gardens and China might be said to date back to the 18th century when the first Chinese plants arrived there and the famous Great Pagoda was built. Last month, the gardens and the Chinese Academy of Sciences extended their long-standing partnership. The Kew Gardens orchid festival in February will feature Chinese plants and culture and “celebrate all that China is achieving in conservation”, Deverell said.

Hong Kong display strikes gold at Chelsea Flower Show with rare orchids

Vibrant display, with orchids from Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, sent powerful message about need to protect the endangered plants