Orchid Delirium
March 3 – April 16, 2023
Wednesday-Sunday | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
(Members can attend member-only preview days on March 1-2, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Orchid Delirium (March 3-April 16) returns in 2023 with a vivid and colorful display, celebrating form and shape. Drawing inspiration from the Victorian-era fascination with the flower that led to a collecting hysteria appropriately named Orchidelirium, this exhibit showcases hundreds of rotating blooms from the 2000-piece orchid collection cared for at Powell Gardens.
As the kick-off to the Gardens’ spring season, this indoor botanical exhibit provides an immersive tropical oasis for all orchid appreciators!
Powell Gardens is open Wednesday-Sunday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. during Orchid Delirium.
The Conservatory
With hundreds of blooming orchids on display, visitors are invited to bask in the beauty of this plant that has captivated the likes of collectors to botanists for decades. Visitors can expect to learn about one of the most numerous flowering plant species through educational programs, interpretation, and guided tours.
Powell Gardens’ signature glass-domed conservatory features new displays of colorful orchids and companion plants. Look for orbs of Moth Orchids in bold colors suspended from the conservatory’s ceiling over a tranquil pool of water. Plantings at the edge of the pool showcase some of our favorite orchids nestled in tropical plants.
The conservatory will also feature pillars of orchids from our collection representing the different orchid genera alongside ferns and other companion plants. In the Perennial Lounge, Brent Tucker (Lead Horticulturalist, Collections) is creating a Lady’s Slipper Orchid display. Orchid Delirium also includes interpretative panels and digital tools for education.
Learn More During Your Visit
Exhibit Guide
Come for the stunning display and leave with a deeper understanding of why the beauty of this plant has enamored humankind for centuries! Use the printed or digital exhibit guide to explore the exhibit and learn more.
Exhibit Tours
Tours of Orchid Delirium are led by Powell Gardens’ passionate docents. Tours last about 20 minutes and are available on Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, and 1 p.m.
Garden Galleries
Stroll to the Garden Galleries to see a whimsical installation. Eric Perette, Lead Horticulturist, draws inspiration from raindrops and puddles to create a playful spring scene with colorful flowering annuals. Overhead, colorful umbrellas will hang with a raindrop made of orchids hanging from the handle of each umbrella.
Across the sidewalk in the arid Garden Gallery, be certain to enjoy the cacti and succulent collection including the living walls of succulents.
Upcoming Orchid Delirium Events
Saturday, April 8 | 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
On Second Saturdays (March – October), Powell Gardens is open late! Take advantage of extended hours and visit between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
On April 8, enjoy a daytime stroll through Orchid Delirium, Powell Gardens’ spring exhibit with hundreds of unique orchids in the conservatory and an imaginative botanical display in Garden Galleries. Add a touch of elegance to your visit with a champagne tea ($45) from 10:30 a.m.-noon.
After a day of exploring, stay for a date night at Powell Gardens. Sip at Garden to Glass: Daffodil Driver ($30) from 4-5 p.m. or enjoy complimentary wine tastings and live music from 5-8 p.m. You’re invited to experience the magic of spring in bloom at Powell Gardens.
Orchid Sale
April 29 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Take a little bit of Orchid Delirium home with you! Support this exhibit’s return in 2024 by purchasing orchids that are not a part of Powell Gardens’ permanent botanic collection from The Marketplace.
Thank you for supporting Powell Gardens!