National Orchid Day

National Orchid Day is a holiday that celebrates one of the most diverse, but often underappreciated, flowers available in the world: a flowering species that comes in a variety of different forms and colors. According to scientists, there are between 25,000 and 30,000 different orchid species around the world—10,000 of which can be found in the tropics. These flowers are not only beautiful, but throughout history, they have also represented some of the highest human virtues, including love, beauty, and strength. It’s no wonder that this family of flowering plants has earned its holiday, which falls on April 16th.

The History Of National Orchid Day

The roots of this bittersweet holiday can be traced back to 2010 when Mike and Faith Young volunteered at an orchid reserve in San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas, Mexico. Working there was an experience that profoundly touched them, so much so that they named their daughter Orchid Faith. Unfortunately, their daughter died on April 16th, 2014. It was after that National Orchid Day was founded as a way to honor her life. They imagined it as a day where their daughter would feel the warmth of all the people who thought of orchids on that day. Later, the Youngs would name a new species of orchids—a species known as Radiant Faith.

Amazing Facts About Orchids

In honor of National Orchid Day, we would like to list some of the amazing facts we’ve learned about this family of flowering plants. Let’s take a look at some of these facts so we can gain a better appreciation of these flowers.

  • Orchids are one of the oldest families of flowering plants.
  • It’s believed that orchids existed before the continents separated.
  • Orchids can be found all over the world.
  • There are more orchids on the planet than birds or mammals.
  • Orchids can take up to 7 years to bloom once they’ve been germinated.
  • Orchids can live up to 100 years.
  • The vanilla bean actually comes from a species of orchid.
  • Orchids have some of the smallest seeds of any flower.
  • An orchid seed pod can contain up to 3 million seeds.
  • The largest orchid weighs several hundred pounds.
  • The smallest orchid is about the size of a U.S. dime.
  • Some orchids only bloom for a few hours, while others can bloom for months.
  • Each orchid flower is bilaterally symmetric.

Observing National Orchid Day

Observing this holiday is simple. All a person has to do is incorporate orchids into their lives in some way. A person can bring home some orchids from their local flower shop, they can plant one of the thousands of orchids available, or they can make themselves a nice cup of orchid tea. People can also help this holiday get the recognition it deserves by using the hashtag #NationalOrchidDay on their social media platforms.

When is it?
This year (2024)
April 16 Tuesday
Next year (2025)
April 16 Wednesday
Last year (2023)
April 16 Sunday
Topic
Nature & Environment