Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens was established in 1893 and features exquisite examples of plants and art. With so much to see and do, it’s easy to get lost there for an entire day. If you’re interested in learning more about and planning a visit to the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, keep reading for some information to help get you started.

Plant Collections
Let’s start out with the plant collections at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. While they do have permanent collections, they also have displays that change with the seasons. Just some of the many plants you’ll find include Weeping Figs, Eastern Cape Cycad, Lychee, Joshua Tree, and the Vanda Orchids. If you have a love of plants, there are definitely plenty to enjoy here.

Art Collections
There are three types of art at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens: historic art, glass art, and biophilic art. Whether indoors or outdoors, there are beautiful pieces of art everywhere you look. One such remarkable piece is the Venus which is a white marble statue that was gifted by Henry Phipps himself in 1893.

Events
As if there wasn’t already enough reasons to visit the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, there are also plenty of events that take place there that are even more of an excuse to plan a trip. For example, the Butterfly Forest just opened on April 22, the Great Plant Auction is on April 29, and the Celebrate Summer event is on April 30. Check out their event page so you can stay up-to-date on all the latest happenings and make an appearance.

Shopping
Want to do a little shopping while you’re at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens? The Shop at Phipps is a boutique that offers a variety of items ranging from children’s items and books to jewelry and toys. Gift certificates are available, and you can even do some shopping online. The boutique is open from Saturday through Thursday 9:30 am to 5 pm and on Friday from 9:30 am to 10 pm.

Dining
Chances are you’re going to get hungry and thirsty while you’re at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, and when that happens, you can stop off at Cafe Phipps for some delicious food and fabulous drinks. Just some of the options you have to choose from include salads, quiche, hummus, pizza, soup, sandwiches, wine, beer, coffee, and tea. Check out their menu which has their options labeled with “vegetarian,” “vegan,” “dairy free,” and “gluten-free” so it’s easy to pick out exactly what you want to get.

The Basics
As far as the hours to get into Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, they’re open Saturday through Thursday from 9:30am to 5pm and on Friday from 9:30 am to 10 pm. It’s free for members to get in, and for adults, the cost is $15. Students and seniors pay $14 each, children 2 to 18 pay $11, and kids under 2 get in for free. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more.

Now that you have a good idea about the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, it’s time to start planning your visit! If you’re interested in seeing anything particular, it’s a good idea to call ahead of time just to verify that that specific area will be available to peruse while you’re there.