The Orchid Society of Great Britain is a registered charity, No. 261273
The Society
The Orchid Society of Great Britain (OSGB) was founded in 1951 by John Blowers and will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2021. It is the UK’s largest orchid society.
The Orchid Society of Great Britain is a club for anyone who grows orchids, whether on a windowsill or professionally, providing a place for members to meet socially, to show their orchids, acquire new ones, and to learn about them with lectures, a journal, a library, exhibiting at shows and cultural advice.
Our membership is national and international, with individual members and Affiliated Societies.
We meet monthly in central London, for a social afternoon, to show our plants for judging at the table show, and to purchase and exchange orchids. Usually, there is a lecture on growing orchids or about how they grow in the wild, followed by a discussion of the plants on the table show. Members can borrow books from the library, and get personal advice on their plants. A raffle, with orchids and related items (books etc) as prizes, is held. Between meetings, members can take part in staging exhibits of orchids at national and regional shows, such as the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, either by lending plants or by working with the exhibition team to set up the display.
To see details of the upcoming events and meetings, please, visit the Events page.
We welcome growers with a wide range of orchid knowledge and experience. Our members’ experience varies from beginners with a few orchids on their windowsills to expert, professional growers. We are happy to help newcomers expand their enjoyment of orchids and increase their expertise in every aspect of orchid growing and showing.
Our 80-page, beautiful, heavily illustrated, quarterly journal provides further information and entertainment.
Since we began, the Society’s aim has been to connect orchid enthusiasts around the country (and the world) and to encourage all to take up this fascinating hobby.
Come and join us! Click Membership to join online or visit a meeting for free for the first time and sign up if you enjoyed your time.