Orchid Exhibition at the New Greenhouse des Botanischen Gartens

Now in its 16th year, the Orchid Show offers a spectacular display of colour across some 1,000 square metres, along with plenty of interesting facts about these fascinating plants – from classics and rarities to true ‘divas’: come and be amazed, chat to the experts and pick up a few plants!

And anyone wishing to admire orchids in their natural-looking surroundings can set off on a discovery tour through the Botanical Garden’s greenhouses.

The Botanical Garden’s accompanying programme offers deeper insights into the world of orchids with special Sunday tours and fascinating short talks on native orchids.

From quite small to quite large, there’s something for everyone:

If you’re looking for ‘Dracula’, Cattleya or lady’s slipper orchids, you’ll find them here.

There are also plenty of practical tips from the on-site experts, as well as all the right equipment:

orchid compost, pots, hygrometers, spray bottles, orchid baskets, window-sill trays, books and much more.

The Berlin Cactus Society and the Society for Carnivorous Plants will also each have a stand.

Every two years, the Berlin branch of the German Orchid Society (D.O.G.) – together with other regional branches as well as national and international orchid nurseries – presents unusual cultivars and impressive wild varieties.

In 2026, the D.O.G. will celebrate its 120th anniversary!

For the first time, orchid enthusiasts will have the chance to help a little plant get off to a good start at the show in the Botanical Garden.

The painstaking preparatory work has already been done – now it’s time to:

Under expert guidance, prick out a mini-plant from the nutrient solution, repot it and take it home with you.

The whole thing is free of charge, but the number of plants is limited. And anyone who’s always wanted to paint their favourite plant in watercolour on canvas should keep an eye out at the orchid show.

Artists Kristin Tessen and Mary Adler will be demonstrating live, in full colour, just how it’s done. Watch, ask questions and buy – that’s possible too!

Under glass and on your doorstep: the BO programme of events accompanying the orchid show

Orchids are fascinating plants with a wealth of stories to tell.

What actually makes them so special? How exactly do they reproduce? And what native orchids can be found in Berlin and the surrounding area?

The experts at the Botanical Garden have the answers to these questions and many more:

On Friday and Saturday (11 & 12 September), conservation geneticist Max Fussan will offer insights into his research on the conservation of native orchids, and on 13 September, two Sunday guided tours through the garden and greenhouses will explore the fascinating world of these diverse plants.

Registration and a participation fee are required for the guided tours; the talks are free of charge and open to anyone interested.

Multimedia talk: Protecting native orchids – insights into research and practice

by Max Fussan, conservation geneticist at the Botanical Advisory Centre at the Berlin Botanical Garden

• When: Friday 11 September & Saturday 12 September, 5.00–6.00 pm
• Where: Queen Luise Square Visitor Centre
• Admission: free
• Booking: not required, limited seating

Sunday tour: The fascinating world of orchids

• When: Sunday 13 September at 12 noon and 2 pm
• Where: Meet at the Queen Luise Square Visitor Centre
• Participation fee: 6 euros per person (plus admission)
• Booking: required; information and booking

Orchid Show 2026 at the Berlin Botanical Garden

Exhibition – Advice – Sales

Tickets are available on site or online at

• Date: 11–13 September 2026 (Friday to Sunday)
• Opening hours: 10.00–18.00 (Orchid Show) and 10.00–20.00 (Garden); ticket offices and greenhouses close at 19.00
• Entrances (public transport): Königin-Luise-Platz, 14195 Berlin (ExpressBus X83, Bus 101) Unter den Eichen 5–10, 12203 Berlin (Metrobus M48)
• Admission: €10, concessions €5; annual pass holders are entitled to the concessionary admission price.

Background information

Orchids – real eye-catchers and true masters of survival

With around 28,000 known species, orchids form the largest family of monocotyledonous plants.

Apart from deserts and Antarctica, they are found in almost every terrestrial habitat on Earth.

The most impressive orchids are probably found in the tropics. Here, they usually grow high up in the treetops, i.e. on other plants.

That is why these species are classified as ‘epiphytes’ (from the Greek ‘epi’, meaning ‘on’, and ‘phyton’, meaning ‘plant’).

In the lofty heights of the tropical rainforest, they receive sufficient light whilst being protected from direct sunlight. The plants draw the nutrients essential for survival from rainwater, dust particles in the air or from decaying plant matter that accumulates on the branches.

Alongside epiphytes, however, there are also species in the tropics that grow on the ground or on rocks.

Many orchid species are under threat in the wild – in the tropics, primarily due to the deforestation of rainforests, and in Central Europe due to the intensification of agriculture.

The excessive collection of wild plants for the ornamental plant trade has also led to the decline of many orchids. Consequently, there are now strict regulations governing trade and export. All orchid species are subject to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.