Conservatory District

The Ballroom will be closed all day Sunday, October 12, except for organ concerts by Luke Staisiunas at 1:00–1:30 pm and 3:00–3:30 pm, free with Gardens admission.
Aerial view of large conservatory complex with a glass ceiling

The Conservatory District— the jewel of Longwood Gardens—features a series of intimate, breathtaking rooms that harmonize the beauty of 19th-century classical architecture to horticultural displays both formal and contemporary.

About This District

Wander through wondrous spaces under acres of glass, taking in the sweeping views of lush foliage and a kaleidoscope of color. Witness the beauty of otherworldly plant species, some of which have been with us since the Conservatory’s 1921 debut. Allow yourself plenty of time to linger, explore, and marvel at the expertise involved in the creation of our dazzling displays.

 

a lush green walkway in the conservatory with hanging baskets and columns covered in green

Gardens in this District

  • Acacia Passage
    sun shines through glass windows into a long hallway with green plants, yellow flowers, and hanging baskets

    Acacia Passage

    From the pendulous branches of the Acacia leprosa, puffs of sunny yellow emerge in February and March—offering a very welcome burst of optimistic color and fragrance amidst winter’s muted tones.

  • Cascade Garden
    A winding path cuts through a glasshouse filled with bold tropical leaves, finely textured glaucous plants, and columns of stone and plantings.

    Cascade Garden

    Inspired by an equatorial coastal rainforest, elemental simplicity reigns in the sole North American garden design by esteemed 20th-century landscape architect, artist, and activist, Roberto Burle Marx (1904-1994). A profusion of plants, water, and stone come together to envelop the senses, immersing you in a verdant mosaic of lush splendor. 

  • East Conservatory
    Sun. streams through the glass ceiling of a conservatory on a pathway lined with green bushes and tall plans with a hanging lamp

    East Conservatory

    Experience an unparalleled sensory journey through lush plantings, soaring classical architecture, and tranquil water features, including waterfalls, pools, and fountains under a half-acre of glass.

  • East Conservatory Plaza
    Two people sit along levels of freshly cut grass in the summer with green tress behind

    East Conservatory Plaza

    A feat of artistic vision and expert engineering, five tiers of sweeping, grass-covered terraces emerge like steps from the land, providing a grand transition from the forest to the Conservatory.

  • Green Wall
    A luscious wall of green ferns and other plants lines a hallway of doors

    Green Wall

    When nature calls, don’t miss this fern-laden glen of lush, vertical vegetation planted along 4,000 square feet. At the end of the hallway, a circular reflecting pool of marble awaits your gaze.

  • Indoor Children’s Garden
    a small fountain in the middle with building structures and green trees surrounding it

    Indoor Children’s Garden

    Let your kids get lost in a lush jungle of draping vines, drooling dragons, and secret stairways. Take a breather on a nearby bench as they shake their sillies in this whimsical realm of discovery.

  • Historic Main Conservatory
    a walkway leads through garden beds full of orange, yellow, and red chrysanthemums toward a large red hanging basket and curved windows, all in a glass conservatory

    Historic Main Conservatory

    In this ever-changing indoor space of perpetual bloom and uncommon, elegant beauty, familiar specimens flourish alongside mature trees and hanging baskets of intricately grown flowers, while a sunken marble pool and lush green lawns beckon.

  • Orchid House
    Sun shines through glass and a metal trellis filled with orchids and green plants

    Orchid House

    Our new Orchid House is an open, gallery-like space with a new glass roof and restored interior and exterior concrete. Hundreds of orchids displayed in custom frame trellises and our restored bronze case showcase the beauty and diversity of our renowned orchid collection.

  • Silver Garden
    morning sun shines through glass windows into a conservatory room filled with desert plants along a stone pathway

    Silver Garden

    Designed by Isabelle Greene, a meandering pathway of slate snakes through rocky outcroppings of spiky, textural plants in otherworldly hues of platinum, cool green, and soft blue.

  • Bonsai Courtyard
    Stately bonsai trees are displayed outdoors atop dark brown wooden stands, with the pointed arches of a large glass conservatory in the background

    Bonsai Courtyard

    Contemplate the interconnectedness of art, nature, and perseverance as you wander this 12,500 square-foot garden featuring a ever-changing display of miniature trees. Selections of great rarity, ancient beauty, and vibrant seasonal interest are thoughtfully curated and displayed, inviting guests to slow down and take in the meticulous details. 

  • Waterlily Court
    Wide view of guests strolling an outdoor court of waterlily pools at sunset, surrounded by conservatory buildings.

    Waterlily Court

    On View Now
    Showcasing aquatic plants from around the world, including South American water-platters and tropical waterlilies, this space invites an otherworldly experience of visual splendor and tranquility as you explore our stunning Conservatories. 

  • West Conservatory
    Cypress and Bismarkia trees rise above low planting beds and a central runnel

    West Conservatory

    A realm of unimaginable beauty and tranquility awaits beneath a soaring crystalline structure of contemporary design. Seemingly afloat atop sleek pools of water, airy pathways meander through colorful gardens inspired by the sun-kissed, Mediterrean regions of the world. 

  • West Conservatory Plaza
    a glasshouse with a multi-peaked roof rises from a wide green lawn dotted with fallen autumn leaves

    West Conservatory Plaza

    A sweeping terrace offers picturesque views for which the Brandywine Valley is renowned. Meandering pathways lead guests to expansive vistas, including a stand of 19th century sycamores and rolling, open meadows, marrying the native landscape with contemporary architecture. 

Longwood Reimagined: A New Garden Experience

Our legacy of innovation continues with the most ambitious expansion, reimagination, and preservation of our Conservatory and surrounding landscape in a century.

For more than 115 years, we have harmoniously blended art and science to create a horticulture experience of unparalleled splendor. With the realization of Longwood Reimagined: A New Garden Experience—a sweeping reimagination of 17 acres of our Conservatory and grounds—we are honored to enhance, steward, and preserve one of the world’s most important, most beautiful collections of gardens and glasshouses.

Stunning new buildings, wondrous new indoor and outdoor gardens, surprising new guest experiences, and much more await your visit. We’ve expanded our grounds, connecting them from east to west in a beautiful, unified journey of lush, formal gardens to open meadows to winding paths to breathtaking Brandywine Valley vistas. We’ve preserved and enhanced our cherished spaces to better showcase and grow our outstanding collections. We’re reflecting our founder’s vision and embodying our mission to create a world apart accessible to all for the celebration and enjoyment of horticulture. We've entered our next chapter … with you.

District Highlights

Sun streams through a glass window into a long hallway with pink hanging baskets
A small metal fountain shaped like a lotus plant spouts water into the air in front of a large rectangular area covered in water and lined with pink flower baskets
A stone path winds through a lush room of colorful plants with a hanging light above
A large hall full of people looks on to a stage performance under hanging baskets of pink orchids at night in a conservatory
A green wall of plants line the pathway down a wide curving hallway
Thin purple flowers sprout up out of green under a glass conservatory
A spinning Chirstmas tree captured with a long-exposure making light trails in a circular motion
A path leads into a room of tropical green, yellow, and red plants in a glass conservatory

What’s in Bloom

  • Small feather-like red, flower cluster on a thin green stem.

    Scarlet Aphelandra

    Aphelandra tetragona

    Aphelandra tetragona is a visually striking tropical plant native to the rainforests of Central and South America, particularly regions of Colombia and Ecuador. It is recognized for its ornamental appeal, featuring glossy green leaves marked by prominent white veins. During its blooming period, the plant produces vivid red bracts with small yellow flowers, which are known to attract pollinators such as hummingbirds. Although it is less commonly cultivated than its relative, Aphelandra squarrosa (the Zebra Plant), A. tetragona shares the same flair for dramatic foliage and vibrant blooms. In local lore, some indigenous groups believed that its radiant flowers symbolized renewal and vitality, using the plant decoratively during seasonal festivals. Though rare in cultivation, it’s a gem among plant enthusiasts for its ornamental value and its role in tropical ecosystems as a pollinator favorite.

  • Numerous golden florets with reddish-maroon petals. Its free flower ability makes it very adaptable for bonsai. .

    Anenome Mum

    Chrysanthemum x morifolium 'Kotoi-no-Kaori' 

    Now on display in the Potting Shed, a charming collection of chrysanthemum bonsai forms, skillfully created by our staff, students, and interns. Be sure to stop by as we get closer to the return of our upcoming Chrysanthemum Festival, on view October 24–November 16!

  • Lollipop-plant

    Pachystachys lutea
  • A large, clumping aroid characterized by its enormous, upright, deep green leaves with pronounced white veins and a glossy texture.

    Elephant's-ear-plant

    Alocasia 'Kuching Mask'
  • Dramatic inflorescence with coral-pink bracts and yellow flowers rises from the center and is surrounded by variegated leaves.

    Aechmea

    Aechmea chantinii 'Samurai'
    Aechmea

  • Ornamental Pepper

    Capsicum annuum ′Santos Orange′

    Capsicum annuum ‘Santos Orange’ is a compact ornamental pepper cultivar valued for its upright, bright orange fruit and neat growth habit. A member of the Capsicum annuum species, native to Central and South America, particularly Mexico. This variety brings vibrant color to containers, borders, and edible landscapes. Though primarily ornamental, the peppers are edible with a moderate to hot heat level. The plant grows to about 10–14 inches tall, thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, and produces fruit continuously through the season. ‘Santos Orange’ combines ornamental beauty with the rich agricultural history of one of the world’s oldest cultivated crops.

  • Lion's-tail

    Leonotis leonurus

    Widespread in its native home of South Africa, this plant favors loam or clay soils and can be found growing in full sun amongst rocks or grasslands. The orange flowers can be spotted from late summer, all through autumn, and attract birds and butterflies with their nectar, making the garden a hub of activity. Early South African dwellers (Khoisan) smoked the dried leaves and flowers, reporting a feeling of calm and euphoria, giving birth to the common name, wild dagga. The leaves are rough on the upper surface, with toothed margins and give off a herbal aroma when brushed or crushed.

  • Perfect, single red flower-form that contrasts beautifully with the shiny, thick, leathery leaves.

    Japanese Camellia

    Camellia japonica 'Toki-no-hagasane'
  • Pansy-like orchid flowers are predominantly white with an distinctive black "bat" marking at the center of the blooms!

    Miltoniopsis Orchid

    Miltoniopsis Lillian Nakamoto 

    Miltoniopsis Lillian Nakamoto is a hybrid orchid grex within the Miltoniopsis genus, known for its large, flat, pansy-like blooms and often sweet fragrance.  Notably, many of the flowers display a central pattern that resembles the silhouette of a bat, adding a dramatic and almost whimsical element to their appearance. Like other Miltoniopsis orchids, it prefers cool to intermediate temperatures, high humidity, and indirect light—conditions similar to its cloud forest origins in Central and South America. Highly regarded by orchid enthusiasts, Miltoniopsis Lillian Nakamoto exemplifies the elegance and diversity achieved through modern orchid hybridization.

  • Inflorescence of purple flowers

    Spurflower

    Plectranthus argentatus 'Nicolleta'

From Our Blog

See more on our blog
New Homes for Old Friends
inside of a greenhouse filled with tropical green plants

New Homes for Old Friends

By Katie Mobley, on July 7, 2021
Specimens of Beauty
a zoomed in photograph of a vibrant purple orchid bloom

Specimens of Beauty

By Greg Griffis, on March 10, 2021
Reimagination Realized

Reimagination Realized

By Paul B. Redman, on February 18, 2021
The Beauty of Height
a hanging basket of yellow blooms suspended above a sunny hallway filled with greenery

The Beauty of Height

By Jim Sutton, Display Designer, on February 3, 2021
How We Make Our Living Succulent Wreaths

How We Make Our Living Succulent Wreaths

By Kat McCullough, on December 30, 2020