Information
Landmark: Phipps Conservatory and Botanical GardensCity: Pittsburgh
Country: USA Pennsylvania
Continent: North America
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Pittsburgh, USA Pennsylvania, North America
Overview
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens opened in 1893, tucked into a lush fifteen-acre stretch of Schenley Park where glasshouses gleam in the sun.• 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.A signature Victorian glasshouse with 14 interconnected rooms, a lush Tropical Forest Conservatory, the Center for Sustainable Landscapes, bustling production greenhouses, and vibrant outdoor display gardens.A global leader in sustainable building design, with projects earning Net-Zero Energy, LEED Platinum, Living Building Challenge, and WELL Platinum certifications-think sunlit spaces that run entirely on clean energy.Don’t miss Palm Court, where a soaring dome greets you overhead and fresh blooms fill the air with each season’s display.Serpentine & Orchid Rooms-curving beds of rare tropical plants, with more than 800 orchids swapped out each week from a sprawling 9,000‑plant collection.Fern Room- a misty, Jurassic‑style hideaway where tall tree ferns sway beside the sound of tumbling waterfalls.Seasonal Show Rooms put on four dazzling flower shows each year-spring bursts with blooms from late March to late April, summer stretches from late May into mid‑September, fall brings bright leaves and a tiny garden railroad in October and early November, and December glows with Holiday Magic.From mid-November to early January, the Winter Flower Show fills the Desert Room with cacti, succulents, and a living Welwitschia, its leathery leaves curling in the warm air.• 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.The Tropical Forest Conservatory is a soaring 60-foot-high space that immerses visitors in a single biome for years at a stretch; right now, warm, misty air carries the scent of Southeast Asia, a theme running through 2026.• Admission: adults $23; seniors/students $21; children 2-18 $13; under 2 free.Outdoor highlights include the Sunken Garden, where parterre beds frame glistening fountains.• 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.Hoichi Kurisu designed the Japanese Courtyard Garden, where smooth stones frame a quiet pool.• 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.Aquatic Gardens-two still pools where giant Victoria water-platters unfurl, their broad green discs glowing in the warm midsummer dusk.Discovery & Edible Gardens-buzzing pollinator beds, a corner where kids dig and explore, and fresh organic vegetables served in the café.• 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.Here’s the practical info for 2025: open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Fridays stretching late until 10 p.m.; doors stay shut on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
