Discover the beautiful world of orchids and join a vibrant community of orchid growers.

Photo courtesy of Katie Payeur: Coelogyne cristata
Interview with February plant of the month grower, Barry Lubin

Discover the beautiful world of orchids and join a vibrant community of orchid growers.

Photo courtesy of Katie Payeur: Coelogyne cristata
Interview with February plant of the month grower, Barry Lubin

Upcoming Events

Featured
May Meeting
May 5
Chicago Botanic Garden, Regenstein Center
May Meeting
Chicago Botanic Garden, Regenstein Center

At the May meeting, guest speaker Tim Culbertson will present on Paphiopedilum orchids.

Chicago Botanic Garden, Regenstein Center
Summer Picnic at Natt's Orchids
Jun 9
Natt's Orchids
Summer Picnic at Natt's Orchids
Natt's Orchids

Join us at Natt’s Orchids for our summer picnic. Meet old friends and new as you walk through Natt’s greenhouse, shop for some special orchids, and enjoy lunch. Bring your orchids in bloom.

Natt's Orchids
July Meeting
Jul 14
Chicago Botanic Garden, Regenstein Center
July Meeting
Chicago Botanic Garden, Regenstein Center

The July meeting will feature a hands-on workshop: Divide, Pot, and Repot.

Chicago Botanic Garden, Regenstein Center

The Illinois Orchid Society is a group of orchid enthusiasts that meet once a month to show off our orchids in bloom and learn from expert speakers and each other.

We also make donations to orchid conservation and research. 

Our society is 100% supported by the hard work of volunteers.

News

Featured
Interviews with Growers
Interviews with Growers

A new series of articles has been created to share more information about some of the plants of the month selected by the IOS judges at our member meetings. The articles have a Q&A format, in which IOS member John Hockberger conducts an interview with the grower of an orchid that has received special recognition. You can find these articles on the Specialized Topics page, under Resources.

New IOS Website
New IOS Website

For the last few months, the website committee has worked to deliver a new website for the Society and prospective members alike. Our new website was created to reflect the vibrancy of the Society, make it easy to plan for upcoming meetings, provide orchid growing guidance from IOS experts, and share photos of orchids in bloom from our monthly meetings and orchid shows.

2023 Fall Show Highlights
2023 Fall Show Highlights

Visitors enjoyed 22 exhibits of live orchid flowers and artwork. The show featured 350 blooming orchids selected for the competition from the private collections of many orchid growers from greater Chicago

Orchid Resources

  • orchid basics - Restrepia brachypus

    Orchid Basics

    With over 25,000 species and countless hybrids, orchids come in an astonishing array of shapes, sizes, and colors, making them a favorite among all gardeners.

    Learn More
  • common orchid types

    Common Orchid Types

    There are several common orchid types that are popular among enthusiasts, widely loved for their beauty and often sought after by collectors and enthusiasts alike.

    Learn More
  • Catesetum Melana Davison

    Culture Sheets

    Comprehensive guides providing specific care instructions for different orchid species, including details on temperature, light, watering, and fertilization requirements.

    Learn More
  • Renanthera Hsinying Cheetah

    Specialized Topics

    Learn from the experts with these articles that focus on specialized topics for the orchid enthusiast looking to expand their expertise beyond the basics.

    Learn More