When Art Chadwick headed for London in May, he couldn’t have imagined he’d return home with both a prestigious medal and a royal encounter. His Powhatan-based Chadwick & Son Orchids made history as the only American exhibitor at Chelsea Flower Show, winning a coveted Silver-Gilt Medal from the Royal Horticultural Society. Going toe-to-toe with the world’s most celebrated growers is the botanical equivalent of hitting a grand slam at Wimbledon.
The real showstopper came when Queen Camilla toured the exhibit and saw an orchid hybrid bred in Virginia and named in her honor. And, she stopped by for a brief chat.
“It was thrilling to be on the world stage, receive this prestigious award, and meet the Queen,” says Chadwick, the company’s president. The second-generation family business operates from 13 Powhatan greenhouses with two Richmond retail locations. They’ve carved out a unique niche creating hybrids honoring America’s First Ladies—a passion project earning recognition through two published books, The Classic Cattleyas and First Ladies and their Orchids.
This debut performance proves that Virginia’s orchid legacy is fully capable of flourishing on the international stage.
Chadwick & Son’s orchid exhibit at the 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Show held at London’s Royal Hospital Chelsea in May.
Art Chadwick bred Queen Camilla’s namesake cattleya orchid at Chadwick & Son’s Powhatan headquarters.
Click here for more on Art Chadwick’s spring adventure to the Chelsea Flower Show.
This article originally appeared in the August 2025 issue.
