Arthur & Phyllis Kaplan Orchid Conservatory

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Norfolk, VA
Arthur & Phyllis Kaplan Orchid Conservatory

The Arthur and Phylis Kaplan Orchid Conservatory is located on the campus of Old Dominion University.

The old Conservatory is closed to make way for a bigger and better facility that will be opening sometime in 2027/28. Main display house is open to the public during scheduled times (M-F 10am-2pm, except national and campus holidays; New Years Day, MLK Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, ODU Winter Campus Holiday Week) with no reservation necessary. Guided tours of the display house and collections glasshouses are not available at this time.

09/30/2026

Polystachya neobenthamia (formerly Neobenthamia gracilis) is a tall, reed-stemmed, terrestrial species that is native to Tanzania. Mature plants can reach nearly 3 feet in height, producing ball-shaped inflorescences at their tips and numerous keikis along their stems. Our plant blooms year-round with flowers measuring about 1/2 inch in size. They emit a fragrance that reminds us of sweet yoghurt.

09/29/2026

Habenaria rhodocheila aurantiaca is an orange-flowered form of a terrestrial species found throughout SE Asia.

The plant shown here is smaller than other H. rhodocheila in our collection, with plants reaching about half their size and flowers measuring 5/8 of an inch. However, the flaming orange flowers give this little orchid a commanding presence.

09/28/2026

Brassocattleya Binosa 'Key Lime'.

Brassocattleya Binosa is a primary hybrid between Brassavola nodosa and Cattleya bicolor that was registered in 1950.

Its long-lasting flowers measure about 2 1/2 inches in size.

09/25/2026

Paphiopedium Winged Dragon is a multifloral hybrid that was registered in 2024. Its primary parents are P. rothschildianum and P. bellatulum, with a dash of P. godefroyae and P. niveum.

This is the first flowering of a seedling received four years ago. The flower shown here measures about 5 1/2 inches across the tips of its petals.

09/24/2026

Vandachostylis Ploenpit White was introduced in 2019. Its flowers measure about 3 inches in size.

09/23/2026

Vanda garayi (aka Ascocentrum garayi) is a miniature species native to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Each flower measures only 1/2 inch in size but the vibrantly-colored inflorescence makes a huge visual impact.

09/22/2026

Bratonia Dark Star 'Darth Vader' is a bigeneric hybrid between Brassia and Miltonia that was registered in 1998. Its flowers vertically measure around 3 12 inches.

09/21/2026

Aerangis ellisii is native to central and eastern Madagascar. The flowers, including their long nectar spur, vertically measure 10 inches. We love the subtle burnt orange shade on the tips of the sepals, reminiscent of singed meringue on top of a pie - and the flowers smell like it too.

09/17/2026

Habenaria Regnieri is a naturally occuring hybrid between Habenaria rhodocheila and Habenaria carnea that is native to SE Asia. This hybrid was also replicated in cultivation and introduced in 1910.

Each flower measures about an inch in size. The inflorescences can last up to two months.

09/15/2026

Plectrelminthus caudatus widely ranges within wet tropical regions of western and central Africa. These striking flowers, with their long nectar spurs, measure 8 1/2 - 9 inches from top to bottom.

Address

1330 West 45th Street
Norfolk, VA

Website

https://www.odu.edu/orchid

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