There are 41 Native Orchids in Washington State. The purpose of this site it to educate and promote conservation of Washington States Native Orchids. Thoughtless collectors and loss of habitat have made many orchids rare, endangered or even extinct.

Many orchids are protected, so don't dig them up. All orchids require special conditions of shade, moisture and soil that cannot be duplicated outside of their habitat. Many orchids in the Pacific Northwest, grows in partnership with a fungus in the soil that shares nutrients taken from the roots of trees and the dying debris on the forest floor. Some orchid when transplanted tend to die from root suffocation resulting from the new soil compaction. For these reasons, they won't grow if dug up and taken home.

People unknowingly pick orchids which harms native orchid populations in two ways. Picking an orchid flower prevents the orchid from producing seeds and reproducing themselves. Also, picking an orchid flower can damage the orchids root system this could lead to the death of the orchid plant. For these reasons, please don't pick orchid flowers.

People unknowingly crowd around to view or take pictures of the orchid which compacts the soil. The soil compaction can be to the point that the orchid will suffocate and no longer grow. Careless feet can trample the surrounding seedlings or non-blooming plants. So, please stay well away, use only established trails and a long-range lens to get your pictures.

Some native orchids have been successfully propagated and can be purchased commercially. So, take a picture of the native orchids, it will last longer and buy them from a nursery that propagated them. Nurseries that grow native orchids: