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
District
Conservatory District
Style
Meandering, Seasonal, Textured
Best Seasons to Visit
Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn

Grand views and tranquil rooms of astounding horticultural design await under a half-acre of glass. Experience an unparalleled sensory journey through lush plantings, soaring architecture, and tranquil water features, including waterfalls, pools, and fountains. Immerse yourself in the gorgeous colors and textures which adorn the intimate spaces of this exquisite indoor display garden. 

About This Garden

Innovation meets tradition and contemporary horticulture in the East Conservatory. Reflecting the grandeur of the adjoining Orangery and Exhibition Hall, the East Conservatory features an immense, airy ridge and furrow roof designed by the late British landscape architect Sir Peter Shepheard (1913-2002). Distinctive garden rooms, reflecting Moorish, French, and Modernist design influences, transform 29,000 square feet of space into an elegant experience of discovery. Leafy Mediterranean and subtropical-climate flora grow abundantly, and seasonal rotations of new, colorful horticultural displays ensure you’ll always find a new reason to be inspired. 

Three large concrete planters with large fruit trees stand on a large stone area in a glass conservatory
Patio of Oranges in the East Conservatory.

The Patio of Oranges, featuring a geometric grid of citrus trees, creates a verdant setting for our guests with its fragrant flowers. Large hedges create intimate areas for moments of quiet, and a gentle stream and waterfall add an element of soothing sound. The trees can be removed in order to host events and performances in this splendid space.

Very large fern hanging baskets hang from a glass ceiling over a stone walkway among green garden beds in a conservatory
Camelia House, 2022.

The Camellia House, an original feature of the conservatories, was constructed in 1919 and designed for growing one of founder Pierre S. du Pont’s favorite flowers. This space was repaired in 1970 when the Azalea House was demolished and rebuilt, and renovated again in 2005, reopening a year later. It continues to display an array of the beloved evergreen shrubs, with spectacular blooms from October through March. The camellia was one of the first to be planted in the Conservatory in 1921, featuring cultivars imported from France and Belgium.  

A brick path leads through lush green plant beds and tress growing over in a glass conservatory
The Garden Path in spring.

Take a walk down the (literal) Garden Path to experience a tapestry of color, texture, form, and fragrance. Inspired by Pierre’s “Spring Walk” and the colors of a cottage garden, the space was used to spotlight an exuberant  display of spring-blooming flowers, trees, and shrubs. Dismantled in 1969 when construction began for the original East Conservatory, the Garden Path reopened in 1986, and was renovated again in 2005. Today, this space features artful plant combinations, a brick path laid with mill stones, fences, trellises, and accents of intricate lanterns. In addition, we use this space to introduce new plants to the Conservatory, monitoring their health and performance under glass before introducing them to our larger indoor displays.

Stroll Through The Seasons

A concrete pathway is lined with green plants while large green ferns in hanging baskets hang from a glass
Pink and yellow plants line an indoor water feature surrounded by tall green palms with yellow hanging baskets in the difference
Luscious green and multi-color plants line a long brick pathway with decorative lamps hanging above
Sun. streams through the glass ceiling of a conservatory on a pathway lined with green bushes and tall plans with a hanging lamp
Green plants ranging from tall palms to lower bushes surround an indoor water feature under a glass conservatory
Luscious green and multi-color plants line a long brick pathway with decorative lamps hanging above
a pedestal fountain overflows into a basin edged by pinkish-red mums and backed by tropical foliage
A Christmas tree of red lights is seen over a small water feature lined with red and yellow plants in a glass conservatory

A Bit of History

Our founder, Pierre S. du Pont (1870-1954), was enamored with azaleas—so much so that in 1928 he built an addition to the historic Main Conservatory to display them. Originally called the Azalea House and designed by E. William Martin—a well-respected architect in Delaware—the space resembled a grand exhibition hall with two rows of structural columns and three sections of ridge-and-furrow roof. The sunken center was planted with a collection of azaleas and rhododendrons, imported from Belgium, England, and the Arnold Arboretum of Massachusetts. In the spring, it was a riot of color.

A historic image from the 1970s of a latticed glass ceiling conservatory filled with azaleas and other plants
East Conservatory, 1970s.

Over the years, the interior landscapes in the Azalea House evolved, owing to our team’s drive to innovate through experimentation. The 1970s saw many evolutions, including the design of a new esplanade and terrace by Thomas Church. This update to the original 1920s space included new paving materials to create a more contemporary, geometric design. Then, in 1977, the Longwood team installed a central water feature in the form of three temporary pools. They were so well received that they became a permanent fixture.

A multi-year restoration to this dynamic space debuted in 2006. Sir Peter Shepheard (1913-2002) led the team with impressive structural improvements, while the garden design and environmental systems were spearheaded and executed by our Longwood teams. Nearly every single aspect except for the structure’s side walls was new, including an immense, airy, ridge-and-furrow roof to reflect the style of the nearby Orangery and Exhibition Hall. Efforts were made to reduce energy consumption, including state-of-the-art electrical systems and a snow-melt system in the roof. Each of the black-dyed pools was heated to support aquatic plant life year-round. A central flowing stream and 16-foot wide waterfall added sound and motion to the garden. Designed to be a multi-functional space, the East Conservatory was thus able accommodate the performing arts, social, and educational events. Details of every scale were considered, from the handcrafted bronze and mica lanterns that illuminate the interior to the dazzling bronze windows from Japan. Artisan-crafted trellises line the walkways and inlaid stone floors echo the shapes and textures seen in the Court of Bamboo and Court of Palms.

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