Experience the Conservatory 

A living collection of plants from around the world, the Conservatory connects beauty with purpose. Through research, teaching, and partnership, we care for these plants in ways that honor their origins and invite shared responsibility for the future of our planet.

A view of the tropical house

AT MATTHAEI BOTANICAL GARDENS

Kimberly and Theodore Maged Tropical House

Plants from warm, frost-free climates thrive here in a carefully tended tropical environment. From towering leaves to intricate understory plants, this space highlights the extraordinary diversity of the world’s tropical ecosystems.

Scultpure in the tropical house
Foundation in the tropical house
Leaves of a tropical plant
Close up of the foundation
Bananas growing from a tree
Pathway in the tropical house

AT MATTHAEI BOTANICAL GARDENS

The Temperate House

Plants here live through cold winters and hot summers, with forms shaped by the seasons. Evergreen leaves, changing colors, and seasonal textures fill the space, while koi swim in the water feature. Stop and visit with them as you explore.

Looking towards the fish pool
A bonsai tree
Bonsai trees
Small trees
A blooming flower
A bonsai tree
A view of the temperate house
A view of the arid house

AT MATTHAEI BOTANICAL GARDENS

The Arid House

Plants of the Arid House have learned to thrive where water is scarce. Their plump leaves, spines, and unique forms tell the story of survival in hot, frost-free deserts of Africa, the Americas, and Asia  and offer a striking lesson in resilience.

Cactus close up
Path lined by catcti and trees
A small plant growing in a rockbed
Tall cacti
Tall catcti
Round-ish cactus