You've probably been wandering around the swamps of Lemoyne for hours. Your boots are covered in mud, Arthur is coughing from the humid air, and you’re fairly certain every alligator in Bayou Nwa has personally introduced itself to you. Yet, that elusive white flower remains nowhere to be found.
Finding lady of the night orchid locations rdr2 maps show is honestly one of the most frustrating parts of the "Duchesses and Other Animals" questline.
Algernon Wasp is a demanding man. He wants fifteen of these things for his first request, along with a bunch of egret plumes. Most players make the mistake of looking on the ground. Big mistake. This orchid is an epiphyte. Basically, that means it grows on trees, not in the dirt. If you’re staring at the grass, you’re never going to finish this mission.
Where to Actually Look on the Map
The Lady of the Night orchid (Brassavola nodosa) is pretty much exclusive to the Bayou Nwa region of Lemoyne. You won't find it in the Heartlands or up in the Grizzlies.
Specifically, you need to hug the Kamassa River and the area just north of Caliga Hall. If you’re looking at your map, focus on the western side of the Bayou. There's a cluster of them near the railroad tracks that lead into Saint Denis.
The flower itself is quite striking once you know what to look for. It has white, heart-shaped petals and long, spindly leaves. At night, it supposedly gives off a citrus smell, though you obviously can’t smell it through your screen. What you can do, however, is use Eagle Eye. When you trigger it, the orchid will glow with that distinct blue "stardust" effect, making it much easier to spot against the dark bark of the swamp trees.
The Best Spots to Farm Them
- North of Caliga Hall: Walk along the riverbank just outside the property lines. There are about four or five trees here that almost always have an orchid attached.
- The "Strange Man" Cabin: Near Bayall Edge, just west of the Kamassa River, there’s a small shack. Check the trees immediately surrounding this cabin.
- The Railroad Tracks: Follow the tracks that run through the swamp toward Saint Denis. Many of the large, moss-covered trees flanking the tracks host these orchids.
- South of Macomb’s End: There’s a decent cluster here, though you’ll have to dodge more than a few gators to get to them.
The Spawning Glitch That Might Be Ruining Your Progress
Here is something the official guides rarely mention: the "14 out of 15" problem.
RDR2 has a very specific piece of coding designed to prevent you from "pre-collecting" everything before a quest officially starts. If you haven't talked to Algernon Wasp yet and started the first stage of the Exotics mission, the game will often stop spawning the Lady of the Night orchid once you hit 14 in your inventory.
It feels like a bug. You'll go to a confirmed location, see the tree, and... nothing. No glow, no flower.
The fix is simple but annoying. You have to actually trigger the mission. Once you have the physical list from Algernon in your satchel, that 15th orchid will magically appear in the world. If you're currently stuck at 14 and can't find a single one anywhere, stop looking. Go find Algernon in his greenhouse in north Saint Denis, get the quest, and then come back.
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Distinguishing Orchids from Vanilla Flowers
Another thing that trips people up is the Vanilla Flower. They look somewhat similar from a distance and they also grow on trees.
Don't waste your time. Vanilla Flowers are much more common and don't count toward your exotic total. The Lady of the Night orchid is brighter, whiter, and the heart shape is more pronounced. If the plant looks yellow or brownish, it’s probably vanilla. Move on.
Why These Orchids Matter for 100% Completion
You aren't just doing this for the cash—though Algernon does pay decently. Completing the "Duchesses and Other Animals" quest is a requirement for the 100% Completion trophy/achievement.
Once you finish all five stages of this grueling scavenger hunt, you get the Exotic Hat and Algernon's Revolver. The revolver is a unique double-action with a pearl grip and some pretty intricate engraving. Is it the best gun in the game? Not really. But it’s a status symbol. It says you survived the Bayou.
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Actionable Next Steps
To get this done as efficiently as possible, follow this exact order:
- Start the Quest: Don't try to collect all 15 before visiting Algernon. It’s a waste of time due to the spawn cap.
- Hunt Egrets First: While you’re in the swamp looking for orchids, shoot every Snowy, Reddish, and Little Egret you see. Their spawn rates are abysmal, and you need 5 plumes of each.
- Use the "Save and Reload" Trick: If you’ve cleared out the area around Caliga Hall and still need more, ride away (toward Rhodes), save your game, and reload. This often resets the spawns for both the birds and the plants.
- Mark Your Map: Every time you find an orchid, place a custom marker. They tend to respawn in the exact same spots after a few in-game days, so you can just run a "loop" rather than searching blindly.
Once you’ve turned in these fifteen orchids and those annoying feathers, you’ll be done with Part 1. Just be prepared—he’s going to ask for Lady Slipper orchids and Heron plumes next. The grind never truly ends in Lemoyne.