The Orchid : A celebration of the world's most charismatic flower

Author: Gardiner, Lauren

Botanical art

Published on 8 January 2026 by Headline Publishing Group (Welbeck) in the United Kingdom as part of 'the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew' series.

Hardback | 256 pages
302 x 244 x 24 | 964g

Queen of the night, Darwin's comet, lady's slipper, little dragon, black chimaera - the otherworldly names of orchid species are as beautiful as these sought-after flowers themselves.

From flamboyant and colourful to strange and understated, and from alpine meadows to cloud forests, the orchid's variety and range is unparallelled - and has made it an object of obsession to plant collectors for centuries. With over 250 stunning botanical illustrations and fascinating documents from the archives at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, The Orchid explores 40 different varieties of this evocative and elusive flower.