World of Orchids

May 4 – June 1, 2025

Save the dates! Our annual spring showcase, World of Orchids, will return for its fifth year. The 8,000 square-foot Dickinson Family Education Conservatory will be transformed to feature hundreds of impressive specimens, locally-bred hybrids, and rare species displayed in unique and unexpected ways. In addition to the beautiful and immersive displays, the show features vendors on select weekends selling plants, potting materials, and other merchandise.

 

Tickets will be available soon – check back for more details!

 

Skip to:  Plant Sales   |   Members  |  Classes   |   Prices  |   Orchids at Night |  FAQs

 

Plant Sales

On-site plant vendor booths will be set up on select weekends with an assortment of plants and products for sale.

Check the vendor calendar below to plan your trip!

Vendors
Guests walking through SDBG 2022 World of Orchids event

Members

Members enjoy free entry to the exhibition and access to plant vendor booths. They also have the opportunity to join our upcoming members-only preview on May 3 to be among the first to see this year’s World of Orchids showcase.

Member Benefits

Classes

Hands-on classes will accompany this exhibition, featuring popular favorites and new workshops. Members receive a discount for all classes. Check back throughout the exhibition’s run for more classes as they are added.

Class List

The exhibition’s stunning designs will feature impressive specimens, locally-bred hybrids, and rare species plants displayed in unique and unexpected ways. In addition to the orchids that typically grow in the Garden’s Conservatory, displays will include plants on loan from private growers belonging to two local groups – the San Diego County Orchid Society and the Palomar Orchid Society – as well as orchids and materials from local businesses.

On select Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the exhibition, vendors will offer unusual and unique orchids and merchandise for sale. A separate ticket for World of Orchids is required in addition to a daytime ticket. Members receive free access to World of Orchids. Admission or a membership is required to visit the vendor booths.

 

2024 Plant Vendors

Visit the exhibition for inspiration and leave with a new addition to your collection! On select days during World of Orchids, stop by our marketplace for a diverse assortment of plants, potting materials, and other plant products for sale by local vendors. The marketplace will be located adjacent to our Dickinson Family Conservatory and is accessible to all Garden guests with general admission.

Vendor Calendar
Guests walking through SDBG 2022 World of Orchids event

Member Benefits

San Diego Botanic Garden Members enjoy free entry to the World of Orchids exhibition and access to vendor booths. SDBG Members get exclusive early access to World of Orchids before it opens to the public with a members-only preview on May 3. 

Become a Member

Classes

Whether you’re a seasoned orchid enthusiast with a diverse collection, or you’ve just discovered your love for these beautiful plants, we will have a variety of orchid-related classes for all to enjoy. 

 

Full Class Lists
San Diego Botanic Garden World of Orchid event in the Dickinson Family Conservatory in 2022

World of Orchids Pricing

This special exhibition requires an additional charge for non-members ages 18 and over.

Members: Free 

Non-Members: $7 + General Admission 

Youth (3-17): Included in General Admission

Child (under 3): Free

Please see FAQ section below for information about Guest Tickets and reciprocal program pricing

Reserve Tickets

FAQs

Tickets / Reservations

San Diego Botanic Garden is dedicated to presenting high quality and relevant exhibitions to our guests. These special exhibitions require additional financial resources to facilitate and account for rising production costs.

Thank you for being a Member! This exhibition is free for all Garden members. 

World of Orchids is one of our most popular seasonal exhibitions, attracting thousands of guests each year. We highly recommend that all guests make an advance reservation online for your visit (including Members). Walk-up admissions for the exhibition are not guaranteed on high-volume days. 

Please note: SDBG will accommodate ticket types that require in-person general admissions including Guest Tickets, The Big Exchange, Museums for All and reciprocal memberships.

For online purchases, you will be prompted to add exhibition tickets to your cart during the checkout process for general admission tickets. Please add these to get entry to the special exhibition. Walk-up admissions will be available, but are not guaranteed on high-volume days.

This exhibition is hosted in our enclosed Dickinson Family Education Conservatory with installations set up along a one-way directional pathway. To help ensure the best experience possible and manage crowds, we ask that you arrive within the 30-minute time window allocated on your tickets (i.e. 9:30-10 a.m.). 

SDBG Guest Tickets provide daytime entry to the Garden. The special exhibition pricing ($7) still applies to visitors 18+ using a Guest Ticket.

Reciprocal admission provides daytime entry to the Garden. The special exhibition pricing ($7) still applies to visitors 18+ using a reciprocal membership. 

Walk-in admission is required for The Big Exchange participants, and provides daytime access to the Garden. Non-members of SDBG ages 18 and over will need to purchase the additional World of Orchids ticket ($7) to see the special exhibition. 

San Diego Botanic Garden is an active supporter of the federal program, Museums for All. Any guest with a Museums for All membership or purchasing a day admission under the Museums for All program will receive free admission to World of Orchids for up to four people. Museums for All day ticket purchases need to be made in person at the Welcome Center.


Visitor Services

Yes. Your exhibition ticket will grant you access to the showcase throughout the day. Pending the number of guests confirmed for any given time slot, you may be asked to wait or come back during a less crowded time. 

Yes! Plant sales will be set up on select days adjacent to the Conservatory building, and will be accessible to all Garden guests regardless of ticket type.

Yes! You will be able to purchase a special exhibition ticket as long as they are available. Please note that walk-up admission is not guaranteed