Potatoes, peat and pollinator perfume: Kew’s Peruvian orchid festival champions pioneering research

Kew’s iconic orchid festival returns to brighten up the winter months. Taking over the Princess of Wales Conservatory from Saturday 1 February to Sunday 2 March 2025, the 29^th orchid festival draws inspiration from the unique flora and fauna of Peru.

From beaches and rainforests to deserts and mountains, Peru offers a varied landscape which is home to over 3,000 species of orchid, and an incredible array of wildlife. This beauty and biodiversity will inspire a series of stunning horticultural displays and living sculptures at Kew Gardens in London.  

Kew Science and Horticulture
RBG Kew scientists have long collaborated with partners across Peru exploring how agriculture, biodiversity, ecosystems and conservation efforts are best supported in an ever-changing climate. As part of the orchid festival, visitors can discover some of the pioneering projects that promise positive impact in the face of unpredictability. Highlights include:

Coca vs cocaine
Though coca (Erythroxylum coca and E. novogranatense) has been used by Andean people as a food supplement, medicine or tea in spiritual ceremonies for centuries, it is often misunderstood due to its recent use as the source of the drug cocaine. Dr Oscar Alejandro Pérez-Escobar, Kew orchid specialist, has become fascinated with the maligned plant and the unreliable method of identification that underpins current regulation to control it. Expanding his research, and in collaboration with fellow Kew scientists Dr Natalia Przelomska and Kew’s Director of Science, Alexandre Antonelli, Pérez-Escobar has published a new paper (2024) outlining the issues with using leaf shape for identification, evidencing the need to revise existing methods used for detecting illegal plantations and trade, and raising awareness of the importance of conserving wild coca for its cultural use.

The promise of potatoes
Born in Peru’s tropical Amazonia, Kew geneticist Dr Nataly Allasi Canales has dedicated her scientific career to championing locally important plants and the crucial role they could play in a shifting global climate. Working with Indigenous farming communities, Allasi Canales seeks to unlock the potential of the locally cultivated ‘chuño’ or freeze-dried ‘bitter potato’ as a food of the future. The research draws on data from collections made over the last hundred years of the different varieties cultivated by Andean farmers. By combining this with climate projections, Allasi Canales hopes to map where planting is best suited to protect these special spuds, ensuring that the varieties and the knowledge around them are protected for generations to come.   

Pollinator perfume
Orchids are one of the largest families of flowering plants, with its huge diversity of around 30,000 species in part credited to its success in attracting diverse types of pollinators. Through his research, Kew scientist Dr Carlos Martel explores how orchids lure insects, particularly via floral scent. Peruvian perfume orchids are especially nifty, having evolved chemically based scents to attract only male orchid bees. Coated in this special cologne, the bees are primed to mate as the scent are sexual signals that stimulate female bees for mating. Carlos has been able to synthetically re-create the perfume of some orchids in the lab by analysing the chemical make-up of orchid scent, and visitors to Orchids will be able to sample these scents.

Peruvian peat and fog oases
The connections between plants and people underpin Dr Carolina Tovar’s research in Peru. In a recent project to conserve mysterious island-like ecosystems called lomas, Kew scientists teamed up with professional paramotorists to explore areas where humans have yet to collect and survey plants. Home to a unique flora that has adapted to survive under extremely harsh summer conditions, lomas are rich in endemic plants but are fragile, extremely hard to study and are vulnerable to climate change and human activities. Tovar’s research also focuses on unique Andean wetlands known as bofedales, which are both ecologically and socially important. Like other types of wetlands where peat accumulates, they act as reservoirs by soaking up snow melt and releasing it slowly to the deserts below. They also store massive amounts of carbon. For the 1.5 million people living in the highlands, bofedales provide forage for their alpacas. Conserving these ecosystems is a win/win for people and the planet. 

A horticultural spectacular
As visitors step inside the glasshouse, the spectacular scenery of Peru will be recreated in floral form.  A breathtaking cornucopia sitting on a grass island will take over the central pond, reminiscent of Lake Titicaca and inspired by one of Peru’s national symbols. Flamboyant flowers will tumble out, representing the abundance of biodiversity found in Peru, whilst in a smaller pond floral parihuanas stand proud in front of the iconic Machu Picchu. The world’s largest bromeliad, Puya raimondii (commonly known as the Queen of the Andes), will also be displayed alongside floral sculptures inspired by this incredible plant, classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The country’s wonderfully diverse wildlife is celebrated with an orchid-aviary that brings to life the diverse bird populations of Peru, and visitors are welcomed by an alpaca bedecked in orchids. Elsewhere, you can wander beneath a starry night sky adorned with dazzling allium flower heads, which will be recycled from Kew’s outdoor garden displays.

Solene Dequiret, Supervisor of the Princess of Wales Conservatory at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew says: ‘We are thrilled to bring the biodiversity of Peru to life in this year’s orchid festival. From the towering peaks of the Andes to precious fog oases and beyond, the rich tapestry of Peru’s flora and fauna provides an endless source of inspiration. Our team work tirelessly to create breathtaking displays that not only celebrate the beauty of orchids but also highlight the importance of conservation efforts globally. Orchids Peru is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the wonders of nature and escape the winter blues while learning about Kew’s ongoing commitment to understand and protect our planet’s biodiversity.’ 

Peruvian art
Peruvian photographer Mariano Vivanco is celebrated for his vast portfolio of fashion and portrait photography. Having shot the likes of Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Naomi Campbell, Sam Smith and Lily Cole (the latter’s portrait can be found at the National Portrait Gallery, London), his editorial work has reached a global audience in international magazines including Vogue, GQ, i-D, Dazed & Confused and Harper’s Bazaar. For Orchids Peru, Vivanco brings a selection of large-scale photography from his captivating PERU collection that sees his classic editorial style turn to his homeland in a celebration of its folklore and heritage. Vivanco’s contemporary perspective of Peru’s rich and diverse history will guide visitors through ancient civilisations – a powerful visual counterpart to the floral displays.

The Princess of Wales Conservatory’s microcosm of Peru will be completed from Stapleton. Drawing inspiration from the enduring strength of women in Latin America, Lima-born artist, Gisella Stapleton’s signature vivid style adorns a selection of new bespoke pieces for Orchids Peru. Stapleton will respond to the featured plants by creating murals to reflect their temperate and tropical native environments. A pottery display will showcase colourful hand-painted patterns whilst murals champion contemporary Peruvian culture. In November 2024, Stapleton unveiled her latest piece – an 8-metre mural of the beloved bear, Paddington, in South Bank, London. 

After Hours | Fridays and Saturdays between 7 and 22 February 2025 | 6.30pm to 10pm
Winter blues will be banished in this special series of After Hours events celebrating Peruvian music and culture. The spectacularly lit orchid displays will form a colourful backdrop for live dance performances from Peruvian dance group, ArtPerUK, and live music from Manzana Tropical, Kausary and Eliana Rosas curated by Movimientos. My Analog Journal (founded by Zag Erlat), one of YouTube’s largest video-mix series, will champion Peruvian DJs and music with their curated video mix. Pisco sours and delicious Peruvian dishes will bring much-needed warmth to February nights, and Kew scientists will reveal behind the scenes insight from their research trips to Peru. 

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is dedicated to harnessing the power of plants and fungi to end the extinction crisis and secure a future for all life on Earth. With Kew’s world-leading research, global partnerships and beloved gardens – home to the world’s most diverse collections of plants and fungi – Kew is using its trusted voice to shape policy and practice worldwide. As a charity Kew relies on the critical support of its visitors, not only to sustain the gardens, but to protect global plant and fungal biodiversity for the benefit of our planet and humanity.

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Press images are available here: https://we.tl/t-wEPNPH5NgD   

For more information or images, please contact the Press Office at pr@kew.org / 0208 332 5607

Orchids Peru admission:     

• Entry to Orchids Peru is included when purchasing a ticket to Kew Gardens. 
• The best value tickets can be booked in advance via kew.org. 
• Visitors must book separate timed entry slots for Orchids 2025 in advance
• Quiet sessions will be available on a pre-booking basis

Orchids After Hours

• Fridays and Saturdays between 7 and 22 February 2025
• 6.30 to 10pm (last entry 9pm)
• Early bird rate – valid until midnight 19 January 2025: Adult £17 | Kew Member £12.50
• Ticket price from 20 January 2020: Adult £20 | Kew Member £15