Green’s Dictionary of Slang

important and commonplace people; occas. used separately.

1822		Tom and Jerry; A Musical Extravaganza 52: Bunches of turnips, extremes of low life. [Ibid.] 55: Roses, pinks and tulips, nobility.
1887		in G.D. Atkin House Scraps 14: A young sprig of nobility [...] was once heard to tell a friend that when he was in the House he felt like ‘an orchid in a turnip field.’ It is almost needless to say that he very shortly had cause to regret his speech, as ever afterwards he and his friends were known as ‘orchids,’ [...] By degrees ‘an orchid’ has become the nick-name for any member with a ‘handle’ to his name.
1923		J. Manchon Le Slang.