While it is sad to say goodbye, there is much to look forward to – a larger display house and support greenhouse facility will accommodate larger groups of visitors and offer a greater diversity of plant specimens. The possibilities are exciting.” –Associate Director Darrin Duling
Things to do during the wait for the new Orchid Facility
- Enhance your knowledge about orchids via our weekly Facebook updates
- Discover ways you can show your support for the Kaplan Orchid Conservatory
Experience the vibrant world of orchids and their remarkable variations through our weekly Facebook updates.
"I especially love the hybrid varieties with all of the stunning color and unique detail... We are thrilled to have a special partnership with ODU and the Tidewater Orchid Society."
- Brian O'Neill, Norfolk Botanical Garden's Director of Living Landscapes
Our Collections
The KOC collection holds a wide array of orchid species and hybrids representing popular genera such as Cattleya, Dendrobium, Paphiopedilum, and Phalaenopsis. Beyond this, the collection delves deeply into lesser-known species, offering a comprehensive and fascinating glimpse into one of the largest flowering plant families on Earth, with an ever-changing kaleidoscope of color, shape and scent.
Vision
The KOC will maintain a living collection of orchids and other plants of horticultural and ecological significance and serve the ODU and local communities by promoting understanding of diversity, culture, and conservation of orchid species in natural habitats.
Mission
The KOC is home to the Kaplan Orchid Collection and a diverse collection of other tropical plants. This collection offers educational opportunities for students, outreach to the public, and provides support for research and training in botany.
