With indoor gardens featuring exotic plant life and a collection of glass works by Dale Chihuly, outdoor botanical gardens that include art sculptures and open green space, and shopping and dining facilities, this Columbus attraction offers something for all ages and interests. During your visit to the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, enjoy a self-guided tour and lunch at the Garden Café.
Conservatory
Explore the beauty of the natural world throughout the Conservatory’s glass greenhouses boasting over 400 species of plants. In the Himalayan Mountain Biome experience the change in the seasons from the fragrance of the Star of Jasmine each June to the colorful deciduous trees in the fall. Representing a portion of the brilliant biodiversity found in rainforests around the world, the Rainforest Biome let’s you explore plant life, find epiphytes and examine cacao trees for pods. Don’t forget to say hello to Mic and Max, the Conservatory’s two resident Macaws that live in the Rainforest Biome. In the Desert Biome, you will find Cacti and succulents of all sizes. Make your way along the winding path of the Pacific Island Water Garden and discover ferns that genetically date back nearly 350 million years and coconut palm and banana trees. At the lower level of the Pacific Island Water Garden, visitors can spend time with the curious fish in the Koi pond.
Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse and John F. Wolfe Palm House
The John F. Wolfe Palm House and the adjoining Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse are the oldest portions of the Franklin Park Conservatory built in 1895. Delight in creative horticulture designs and fantastic floral displays in the historic Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse featuring special horticulture displays that change with the seasons and with the exhibitions presented at the Conservatory. In the Palm House you will find 43 species of palms from around the world including the Ficus lyrata, or Fiddle-leaf Fig, one of the original trees planted in the Palm House.
Botanical Gardens
Abundant outdoor gardens, art sculptures and open green space await you in the Franklin Park Botanical Gardens. The Entry Plaza’s seasonal displays will welcome you. Expect to see colorful bulbs in the early spring, brightly colored annuals and container displays in the summer and fall, and winter foliage, sparkling lights and an evergreen tree display during the holiday season. Unique varieties of conifers and grasses can be found in the Crane Conifer and Ornamental Grass Collection. In the Grand Mallway Gardens, you can stroll along pathways lined with evergreen shrubs and perennial beds. A prominent feature of the Grand Mallway is the NavStar, a sculpture by Stephen Canneto. Visit the Trial Gardens to view the Conservatory’s new plant collections and be inspired by artful horticulture design. Brides Garden features lush foliage, blooming perennials, white redbud trees, a bubbling fountain and a romantic swing. From late spring through the summer, delight in a palette of cream orange, bright yellow and fuchsia-colored daylilies. You’ll find 850 varieties of blooming daylilies arranged in beds by decade from when the cultivars and species were introduced in Daylily Garden.
Garden Campus
Designed as a living classroom and idea center, Garden Campus is a four-acre garden that provides resources for visitors with an interest in gardening and edible landscapes. Discover the culinary, herb and fragrance gardens including apiary, rose pavilion, berry house and 40 community garden plots.
Dining at the Garden Café
If time permits, enjoy lunch in the Garden café. The café’s creative, made-from-scratch menu features seasonal salads, sandwiches and soup, daily specials, homemade pastries and deserts and a selection of hot and cold beverages.
- Look for works from the Dale Chihuly collection on display in the Conservatory including the 666-piece Sunset Tower. Chihuly’s vibrant glass artwork combined with natural light and the colors and forms of the Conservatory’s plant collection will leave a lasting impression.
- The Franklin Park Conservatory features special, temporary art-and nature-based exhibitions throughout the year including exhibitions by national and international artists.
- Stop by the Conservatory’s boutique gift shop and greenhouse. Home and garden décor, jewelry and accessories and items created by local artists are available to purchase.