Posted:
1/23/2026 |
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(ST. LOUIS) -The Missouri Botanical Garden invites guests to take in the beautiful sights and captivating smells of its extensive orchid collection at the annual Orchid Show, opening at the end of this month.
Each year, the Garden brings hundreds of orchids from its greenhouses to transform the Emerson Conservatory into a breathtaking display of tropical orchids from around the globe. With over 5,000 individual plants representing 700 unique species, the dynamic show evolves throughout its run as new orchids come into bloom and are added to the display.
This year, the Orchid Show highlights the diverse scents of orchids in collaboration with the 'Smelling the Bouquet' exhibition at the Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum. Visitors can learn about both the pleasant and unpleasant aromas of orchids, why some orchids emit no scent at all and the role scent plays in the botanical world.
Those interested in learning more about the spectrum of plant scents and their use in perfumery can visit the “Smelling the Bouquet.” This exhibition features more than two dozen sniffable scents inspired by the Garden's plant collection and global research, along with artifacts and specimens connected to plant-based fragrances.
The Orchid Show is open during daytime admission from January 31–March 1 and is included in Garden admission. Missouri Botanical Garden Members enjoy early access on January 30. Learn more about the show at mobot.org/orchidshow.
In addition to daytime viewing, the Garden offers expanded ways to experience the Orchid Show, including evening events and accessibility-focused tours.
On February 5 and 19, guests 21+ can experience the Garden's Orchid Show transformed after dark, with dramatic lighting, live music and samples from local breweries, wineries and distilleries. Representatives of the Garden’s Peter H. Raven Library and the Herbarium will be at the event to offer deeper insights into the Garden’s orchid collection and research.
Tickets for Orchid Nights are limited and can be reserved online at mobot.org/events.
NEW! American Sign Language Tour
Tuesday, February 10 | 4–5 p.m.
Designed for guests who are deaf or hard-of-hearing and their loved ones, this Docent-led tour explores the Orchid Show with American Sign Language interpretation. This tour is included in admission, but prior registration is required.
NEW! Audio Description Tour
Tuesday, February 17 | 10–11 a.m.
This tour explores the Orchid Show alongside a Garden Docent providing audio description of the plants and informational signage included in the show. The tour is designed specifically for guests who are blind or have low vision, as well as their loved ones and is included in admission, but prior registration is required.
NEW! Take a Walk Down Memory Lane at the Orchid Show
Monday, February 23 | 4–5 p.m.
Enjoy a guided tour of the Orchid Show created especially for people with memory loss and their loved ones and support person. Participants can take a short, relaxing walk through the beautiful Emerson Conservatory, surrounded by hundreds of orchids from the Garden’s historic collection. This tour is included in admission, but prior registration is required.
Other opportunities to explore the show in new ways, such as orchid photography classes, will be offered throughout February. To explore the Garden’s full list of upcoming classes and sign up for tours, visit mobot.org/classes.
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The Missouri Botanical Garden’s mission is “to discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment in order to preserve and enrich life.” Today, 167 years after opening, the Missouri Botanical Garden is a National Historic Landmark and a center for science, conservation, education and horticultural display.