A federated body of growers, since 1968.
Four societies met in Bloemfontein on the 29th of July, 1968 to form a national council. Fifty-eight years later, that council coordinates twenty-one societies from the Cape to the Limpopo.
SAOC exists to promote the culture, hybridisation and appreciation of orchids in cultivation across South Africa. We do this through a federated network of 21 affiliated societies, a nationally accredited judging system standardised in 1990, and our annual publication Orchids South Africa.
Our remit is orchids in cultivation — on the show bench, in the greenhouse, and in the community. For indigenous species in the wild, our partner organisation Wild Orchids of Southern Africa leads that work.
- 1968
- Council Founded
- 1990
- Judging Standardised
- 18
- National Shows Hosted
- 21
- Affiliated Societies
Est. 1968 · Bloemfontein
From four societies to a national council
Four societies met in Bloemfontein on 29 July 1968 and agreed to form the South African Orchid Council, giving the country’s growers a single federated body for the first time.
SAOC was formally incorporated as a non-profit body in 1978 (registration number 1978/004040/08), putting the young council on a permanent legal footing as more societies affiliated across the provinces.
In 1990, SAOC standardised its judging system nationally, replacing regional variation with a single set of published criteria used by accredited judges at every affiliated show.
Today SAOC coordinates 21 affiliated societies across all nine provinces and has hosted 18 national shows, continuing the work its founders began in 1968.
The national committee
SAOC is run by a national committee elected from its affiliated societies, overseeing judging, shows, publications and the council's day-to-day affairs.
To be confirmed
Chair of Judging
Awaiting confirmation
To be confirmed
Editor, Orchids South Africa
Awaiting confirmation
To be confirmed
President
Awaiting confirmation
To be confirmed
Secretary
Awaiting confirmation
To be confirmed
Treasurer
Awaiting confirmation
To be confirmed
Vice-President
Awaiting confirmation
SAOC focuses on orchids in cultivation. For wild orchid identification, habitat, and conservation, visit our partner organisation Wild Orchids of Southern Africa (WOSA).
Find your society, join the council's work
SAOC is a federation of 21 independent orchid societies. Find one near you, or get in touch with the national committee directly.