Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens | Pittsburgh

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Snapshot
• Opened 1893, fifteen-acre campus inside Schenley Park.
• Signature Victorian glasshouse (14 connected rooms), plus Tropical Forest Conservatory, Center for Sustainable Landscapes, production greenhouses, outdoor display gardens.
• International leader in green-building design—multiple Net-Zero Energy, LEED-Platinum, Living Building Challenge and WELL-Platinum certifications.

Must-see indoor rooms

Palm Court – soaring entry dome with seasonal flower installations.

Serpentine & Orchid Rooms – winding beds of rare tropicals; 800-plus orchids rotated weekly from a 9 000-plant collection.

Fern Room – misty “Jurassic” setting with tree ferns and waterfalls.

Seasonal Show Rooms – four blockbuster flower shows each year:
• Spring Flower Show (late Mar–late Apr)
• Summer Flower Show (late May–mid Sep)
• Fall Flower Show & miniature Garden Railroad (Oct–early Nov)
• Holiday Magic! Winter Flower Show (mid Nov–early Jan)

Desert Room – cacti, succulents, and living Welwitschia.

Tropical Forest Conservatory – 60-foot-high room focused on one biome for several years at a time; current theme is Southeast Asia (through 2026).

Outdoor highlights

• Sunken Garden with parterre beds and fountains.
• Japanese Courtyard Garden designed by Hoichi Kurisu.
• Aquatic Gardens – twin pools where giant Victoria water-platters bloom on midsummer evenings.
• Discovery & Edible Gardens – pollinator beds, children’s nature play, organic vegetables used by on-site café.

Practical info (2025)

• Hours: daily 9 :30 a.m.–5 p.m.; Fridays open until 10 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving & Christmas.
• Admission: adults $23; seniors/students $21; children 2-18 $13; under 2 free. Timed tickets recommended for flower-show peaks.
• Parking: small metered lot on Frew Street; street spots nearby; Carnegie Mellon garages ten-minute walk.
• Accessibility: step-free paths throughout; free wheelchairs available.
• Dining: Café Phipps serves locally sourced, palm-oil-free meals; 4-Star Green Restaurant Certified.
• Gift shop carries houseplants, botanical gifts, regional crafts.

Popular programs & events (selection)

• Botany Hall Science Series – monthly evening talks by researchers.
• Bio-Diverse Backyard workshops on native gardening.
• Tropical Forest Cuba Festival each January (music, dance, food).
• Summer Camps for ages 4–13 (ecology, art, gardening).
• Candlelight Evenings in December with thousands of LED lights and live musicians.

Sustainability achievements

Phipps produces more renewable electricity than it uses, diverts all waste from landfill, captures and treats storm-water in on-site lagoons and wetlands, and runs research plots on green-roof substrates and carbon-sequestering plants.

Visiting tips

• Arrive at opening or after 7 p.m. Friday for thinner crowds.
• The Tropical Forest stays 75–80 °F year-round—dress in layers.
• Tripods are allowed only on “Photography Tuesdays” (advance reservation).
• Plan two to three hours for indoor displays, plus another hour outdoors in summer.
• Combine with nearby attractions: Carnegie Museums on Forbes Avenue or a stroll in Schenley Park.

Phipps offers a rare blend of Victorian glasshouse beauty, cutting-edge sustainability, and ever-changing horticultural artistry—worth a spot on every Pittsburgh itinerary.