RHS Orchids

Orchids A History through Botanical Illustration

Charlotte Brooks

Contents

Introduction: Orchids and the RHS: For Good and Ill... 7

Chapter 8: RHS Commissions: The Official Orchid Artists 162

Chapter 1: A Burgeoning Interest in Orchids 12

Chapter 9: Life After Roberts 188

Chapter 2: The History of the RHS Orchid Committee, by Clare Hermans 22

Watercolour palette and specimens for Cattleya Mystery Zone ‘Yellow Magic’,

by Deborah Lambkin, 2019

Almost all of the Lindley Library’s 7,350 orchid award portraits have been digitised, and the project to make all paintings available in digital form is ongoing. The RHS Orchid Committee continues to commission portraits when possible (notwithstanding events such as the global COVID-19 pandemic). Each portrait provides a link between the history of orchid breeding and present-day practice, taking its place in a collection that serves to inspire researchers and plants enthusiasts today. Necessarily, only a handful of stories have been explored in this publication, and inevitably there are more tales to unearth. The enduring beauty of the paintings and the scale of the endeavour they represent, is truly marvellous.

4

Chapter 10: Continuing the Cultivation: The Eric Young Orchid Foundation 240

Chapter 3: RHS Orchid Awards 28

Endnotes 247

Chapter 4: A New Generation of Orchidists 42

Bibliography 248 Acknowledgements 249

Chapter 5: Orchid Mania 62

Colour Plates 250

Chapter 6: The Influence of the Artist 74

General Index 252 Plant Index 255

Chapter 7: The Northern Orchid Scene 132

5

Contents

Introduction: Orchids and the RHS: For Good and Ill... 7

Chapter 8: RHS Commissions: The Official Orchid Artists 162

Chapter 1: A Burgeoning Interest in Orchids 12

Chapter 9: Life After Roberts 188

Chapter 2: The History of the RHS Orchid Committee, by Clare Hermans 22

Watercolour palette and specimens for Cattleya Mystery Zone ‘Yellow Magic’,

by Deborah Lambkin, 2019

Almost all of the Lindley Library’s 7,350 orchid award portraits have been digitised, and the project to make all paintings available in digital form is ongoing. The RHS Orchid Committee continues to commission portraits when possible (notwithstanding events such as the global COVID-19 pandemic). Each portrait provides a link between the history of orchid breeding and present-day practice, taking its place in a collection that serves to inspire researchers and plants enthusiasts today. Necessarily, only a handful of stories have been explored in this publication, and inevitably there are more tales to unearth. The enduring beauty of the paintings and the scale of the endeavour they represent, is truly marvellous.

4

Chapter 10: Continuing the Cultivation: The Eric Young Orchid Foundation 240

Chapter 3: RHS Orchid Awards 28

Endnotes 247

Chapter 4: A New Generation of Orchidists 42

Bibliography 248 Acknowledgements 249

Chapter 5: Orchid Mania 62

Colour Plates 250

Chapter 6: The Influence of the Artist 74

General Index 252 Plant Index 255

Chapter 7: The Northern Orchid Scene 132

5

Introduction

Orchids and the RHS: For Good and Ill...

Orchids are immensely important horticultural plants,

little Ophrys apifera (bee orchid) and Dactylorhiza

and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS, formerly

fuchsia (common spotted-orchid), native to the UK and

‘Horticultural Society of London’) has shared in a long

found growing terrestrially in a variety of locations, to

history of their cultivation. Made popular in Britain by

the tropical epiphytic orchids that have evolved to live

wealthy Victorians, rare orchids have, throughout their

on rocks and trees, such as Coelogyne and Dendrobium.

history, exchanged hands for immense sums of money.

Developments in producing artificial hybrids in the

The fabulous array of colours, patterns, shapes and sizes

mid-nineteenth century led to an explosion in the

that are found in the Orchidaceae family make them

number of orchids that were commercially available.

endlessly fascinating. The RHS collection of Orchid

There is currently some debate over the extent of the

Award Portraits is a unique record of over 7,000 award-

known orchid population. It is estimated that there

winning orchids. Commissioned by the RHS Orchid

are over 30,000 orchid species, and according to the

Committee, these watercolours sit within an assembly of

International Orchid Register there are approximately

paintings that represent over a hundred years of passion

181,500 registered hybrids. The RHS has been the

for these complex plants. Through these paintings,

International Registration Authority of orchid hybrids

stories of high stakes orchid breeding and exhibiting

since 1960.

are explored, with a cast of characters who helped shape the horticultural world we know today, alongside the

Long before there were specialist societies

dedicated artists who still support their endeavours.

devoted to orchids, the Horticultural Society was associated, for good and ill, with the introduction

This extensive plant family grows wild in a range of

and promotion of orchids in Britain. The garden

conditions across the globe. They range from the delicate

at Chiswick became famous for its orchid

Plate 1. Cymbidium erythraeum var. flavum ‘Petit Aleval’, AM and BC 2020, by Lambkin.

Exhibited by Eric Young Orchid Foundation

7

Introduction

Orchids and the RHS: For Good and Ill...

Orchids are immensely important horticultural plants,

little Ophrys apifera (bee orchid) and Dactylorhiza

and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS, formerly

fuchsia (common spotted-orchid), native to the UK and

‘Horticultural Society of London’) has shared in a long

found growing terrestrially in a variety of locations, to

history of their cultivation. Made popular in Britain by

the tropical epiphytic orchids that have evolved to live

wealthy Victorians, rare orchids have, throughout their

on rocks and trees, such as Coelogyne and Dendrobium.

history, exchanged hands for immense sums of money.

Developments in producing artificial hybrids in the

The fabulous array of colours, patterns, shapes and sizes

mid-nineteenth century led to an explosion in the

that are found in the Orchidaceae family make them

number of orchids that were commercially available.

endlessly fascinating. The RHS collection of Orchid

There is currently some debate over the extent of the

Award Portraits is a unique record of over 7,000 award-

known orchid population. It is estimated that there

winning orchids. Commissioned by the RHS Orchid

are over 30,000 orchid species, and according to the

Committee, these watercolours sit within an assembly of

International Orchid Register there are approximately

paintings that represent over a hundred years of passion

181,500 registered hybrids. The RHS has been the

for these complex plants. Through these paintings,

International Registration Authority of orchid hybrids

stories of high stakes orchid breeding and exhibiting

since 1960.

are explored, with a cast of characters who helped shape the horticultural world we know today, alongside the

Long before there were specialist societies

dedicated artists who still support their endeavours.

devoted to orchids, the Horticultural Society was associated, for good and ill, with the introduction

This extensive plant family grows wild in a range of

and promotion of orchids in Britain. The garden

conditions across the globe. They range from the delicate

at Chiswick became famous for its orchid

Plate 1. Cymbidium erythraeum var. flavum ‘Petit Aleval’, AM and BC 2020, by Lambkin.

Exhibited by Eric Young Orchid Foundation

7

3.

RHS Orchid Awards

The RHS Orchid Committee currently judges across a range of five awards: First Class Certificate, Award of Merit, Preliminary Commendation, Botanical Certificate and Cultural Certificate.

It is impossible to anticipate how many awards will be given at a meeting, and as such, the number of paintings that will be commissioned. In recent years, as part of a need to manage spending in a more predictable fashion, a limit of 30 new orchid paintings per year was imposed.

It was agreed that the primary focus for RHS commission should be on painting the orchids that had received a First Class Certificate or an Award of Merit. Where numbers allow, exceptions are made for some orchids that received a Botanical Certificate, where they are of particular interest to the committee. On average, a First Class Certificate is awarded every other year, so these really are considered very special.

First Class Certificate (FCC): Given on the recommendation of RHS Plant Committees to plants of outstanding excellence and outstanding exemplars of their type.

Cultural Certificate (CC): Given on the recommendation of RHS Plant Committees to growers submitting plants that show evidence of great cultural skill. This is the only award given to a person (or nursery) and not a plant.6

Plate 8. Laeliocattleya (Cattleya) Profusion ‘Titanic’,

by Roberts, FCC 1926

28

3.

RHS Orchid Awards

The RHS Orchid Committee currently judges across a range of five awards: First Class Certificate, Award of Merit, Preliminary Commendation, Botanical Certificate and Cultural Certificate.

It is impossible to anticipate how many awards will be given at a meeting, and as such, the number of paintings that will be commissioned. In recent years, as part of a need to manage spending in a more predictable fashion, a limit of 30 new orchid paintings per year was imposed.

It was agreed that the primary focus for RHS commission should be on painting the orchids that had received a First Class Certificate or an Award of Merit. Where numbers allow, exceptions are made for some orchids that received a Botanical Certificate, where they are of particular interest to the committee. On average, a First Class Certificate is awarded every other year, so these really are considered very special.

First Class Certificate (FCC): Given on the recommendation of RHS Plant Committees to plants of outstanding excellence and outstanding exemplars of their type.

Cultural Certificate (CC): Given on the recommendation of RHS Plant Committees to growers submitting plants that show evidence of great cultural skill. This is the only award given to a person (or nursery) and not a plant.6

Plate 8. Laeliocattleya (Cattleya) Profusion ‘Titanic’,

by Roberts, FCC 1926

28

Plate 9. Oncidopsis Champs du Chemin ‘Le Hurel Tower’,

Plate 10. Phragmipedium Cardinale ‘Giorgio’,

by Lambkin, FCC 2015

by Lavrih, CC 2004

30

31

Plate 9. Oncidopsis Champs du Chemin ‘Le Hurel Tower’,

Plate 10. Phragmipedium Cardinale ‘Giorgio’,

by Lambkin, FCC 2015

by Lavrih, CC 2004

30

31

4 – A NEW GENERATION OF ORCHIDISTS

4.

A New Generation of Orchidists

over running James Veitch & Sons in Chelsea following the death of his father and older brother.

Under his influence, the business thrived, and high-profile plant collectors travelled around the world on behalf of the nursery, sending back sought-after specimens.

John Dominy had brought about the first orchid hybrids whilst employed at the Veitch nurseries, Sir Harry James Veitch (1840–1924), FLS and VMH

thus enabling another important strand to the business. Amongst their most significant clients

Sir Harry Veitch grew up in a horticultural environment, during a period that saw the old world

were Baron Sir Henry Schröder and Sir Trevor Lawrence, who both purchased their prized plants

of orchid gathering turn to a new world of commercial hybridisation. Veitch was heavily involved

from the specialist nursery, as well as at auction.

with the RHS; a member of the Council and a treasurer of the Society, he was also Chair of the Orchid Committee. A regular exhibitor at the Temple Flower Shows, Veitch helped to establish

The name Veitch weighs heavily in plant nomenclature and occurs in over 200 plant names, from

the Great Spring Show in 1912, which went on to become the Chelsea Flower Show.

pines to primulas, rhododendrons and, of course, orchids. Sir Harry recorded the most significant of the nursery’s collections in the Manual of Orchidaceous Plants, and in the firm’s nursery

Veitch came from a family of nurserymen who operated in London and Exeter. Sir Harry took

catalogues, illustrated by the in-house artist, J. Page.

Oil portrait of

Cattleya House at the Royal Exotic Nursery,

Sir Harry James Veitch, c.1913

King’s Road Chelsea, 1887

42

43

4 – A NEW GENERATION OF ORCHIDISTS

4.

A New Generation of Orchidists

over running James Veitch & Sons in Chelsea following the death of his father and older brother.

Under his influence, the business thrived, and high-profile plant collectors travelled around the world on behalf of the nursery, sending back sought-after specimens.

John Dominy had brought about the first orchid hybrids whilst employed at the Veitch nurseries, Sir Harry James Veitch (1840–1924), FLS and VMH

thus enabling another important strand to the business. Amongst their most significant clients

Sir Harry Veitch grew up in a horticultural environment, during a period that saw the old world

were Baron Sir Henry Schröder and Sir Trevor Lawrence, who both purchased their prized plants

of orchid gathering turn to a new world of commercial hybridisation. Veitch was heavily involved

from the specialist nursery, as well as at auction.

with the RHS; a member of the Council and a treasurer of the Society, he was also Chair of the Orchid Committee. A regular exhibitor at the Temple Flower Shows, Veitch helped to establish

The name Veitch weighs heavily in plant nomenclature and occurs in over 200 plant names, from

the Great Spring Show in 1912, which went on to become the Chelsea Flower Show.

pines to primulas, rhododendrons and, of course, orchids. Sir Harry recorded the most significant of the nursery’s collections in the Manual of Orchidaceous Plants, and in the firm’s nursery

Veitch came from a family of nurserymen who operated in London and Exeter. Sir Harry took

catalogues, illustrated by the in-house artist, J. Page.

Oil portrait of

Cattleya House at the Royal Exotic Nursery,

Sir Harry James Veitch, c.1913

King’s Road Chelsea, 1887

42

43

Plate 18. Odontoglossum (Oncidium) Sir Harry Veitch,

Plate 19. Miltonia (Miltoniopsis) Lady Veitch,

by Roberts, AM 1920

by Roberts, FC 1918

44

45

Plate 18. Odontoglossum (Oncidium) Sir Harry Veitch,

Plate 19. Miltonia (Miltoniopsis) Lady Veitch,

by Roberts, AM 1920

by Roberts, FC 1918

44

45

Plate 35. Cypripedium (Paphiopedilum) Woodlandense, watercolour

Plate 36. Paphiopedilum stonei ‘Magnificum’,

by Macfarlane for Measures at The Woodlands, 17 Oct. 1892

by Macfarlane for Lawrence, 8 June 1891

88

89

Plate 35. Cypripedium (Paphiopedilum) Woodlandense, watercolour

Plate 36. Paphiopedilum stonei ‘Magnificum’,

by Macfarlane for Measures at The Woodlands, 17 Oct. 1892

by Macfarlane for Lawrence, 8 June 1891

88

89

Plate 37. Bulbophyllum grandiflorum, 3 October 1896,

Plate 38. Odonotoglossum crispum (Oncidium alexanderae) ‘Guttatum’,

watercolour by Macfarlane for Lawrence

watercolour by Macfarlane for Lawrence

90

91

Plate 37. Bulbophyllum grandiflorum, 3 October 1896,

Plate 38. Odonotoglossum crispum (Oncidium alexanderae) ‘Guttatum’,

watercolour by Macfarlane for Lawrence

watercolour by Macfarlane for Lawrence

90

91

9 – LIFE AFTER ROBERTS

9 – LIFE AFTER ROBERTS

In a race to publish a description of the species he knew would be highly sought after, Kovach smuggled the specimen into the USA. Following extensive news coverage and an investigation, Kovach was sentenced and jailed. Even though it is a protected species, Phragmipedium kovachii was still subject to over collection in the wild and some of its original habitat has already been cleared of plants.

Yet in a bid to try and overcome the destruction of the natural habitats, the Peruvian government has issued licenses for two local nurseries to propagate artificially produced seedlings. Three cultivars originated from the seedlings produced by one of licensed nurseries: ‘Trinity’, ‘Ann’ and ‘Phoenix’. ‘Trinity’ was judged to be one of the finest in form and colouration that the RHS Orchid Committee had seen; it was awarded a First Class Certificate. Lambkin felt a great responsibility and measured the flowers daily. The flowers lasted up to two weeks in full bloom, and at its greatest, the spread reached 16 cm across.

The ‘kovachii’ influence can also be clearly seen in the variations brought about in two other award-winning varieties: Phragmipedium kovachii ‘Ann’ presented by John Gay of Yorkshire, and Phragmipedium kovachii ‘Phoenix’ from Richard Rhodes, also of Yorkshire.

Dendrobium lasianthera is a protected epiphytic orchid that is usually found growing on small trees in swampy forests or along riversides in Papua New Guinea. This impressive plant can grow up to 4 m tall. A warm-growing orchid, it likes continuous humidity and can be tricky to cultivate.

Plate 123. Phragmipedium kovachii ‘Trinity’,

by Lambkin, FCC 2011, exhibited by Eric Young Orchid Foundation

234

235

9 – LIFE AFTER ROBERTS

9 – LIFE AFTER ROBERTS

In a race to publish a description of the species he knew would be highly sought after, Kovach smuggled the specimen into the USA. Following extensive news coverage and an investigation, Kovach was sentenced and jailed. Even though it is a protected species, Phragmipedium kovachii was still subject to over collection in the wild and some of its original habitat has already been cleared of plants.

Yet in a bid to try and overcome the destruction of the natural habitats, the Peruvian government has issued licenses for two local nurseries to propagate artificially produced seedlings. Three cultivars originated from the seedlings produced by one of licensed nurseries: ‘Trinity’, ‘Ann’ and ‘Phoenix’. ‘Trinity’ was judged to be one of the finest in form and colouration that the RHS Orchid Committee had seen; it was awarded a First Class Certificate. Lambkin felt a great responsibility and measured the flowers daily. The flowers lasted up to two weeks in full bloom, and at its greatest, the spread reached 16 cm across.

The ‘kovachii’ influence can also be clearly seen in the variations brought about in two other award-winning varieties: Phragmipedium kovachii ‘Ann’ presented by John Gay of Yorkshire, and Phragmipedium kovachii ‘Phoenix’ from Richard Rhodes, also of Yorkshire.

Dendrobium lasianthera is a protected epiphytic orchid that is usually found growing on small trees in swampy forests or along riversides in Papua New Guinea. This impressive plant can grow up to 4 m tall. A warm-growing orchid, it likes continuous humidity and can be tricky to cultivate.

Plate 123. Phragmipedium kovachii ‘Trinity’,

by Lambkin, FCC 2011, exhibited by Eric Young Orchid Foundation

234

235

Plate 124. Phragmipedium kovachii ‘Ann’, by Lambkin,

Plate 125. Phragmipedium kovachii ‘Phoenix’,

AM 2015, exhibited by J. Gay

by Lambkin, AM 2014, exhibited by R. Rhodes

236

237

Plate 124. Phragmipedium kovachii ‘Ann’, by Lambkin,

Plate 125. Phragmipedium kovachii ‘Phoenix’,

AM 2015, exhibited by J. Gay

by Lambkin, AM 2014, exhibited by R. Rhodes

236

237

ISBN: 978-1-78884-161-0

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