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Hilbert Conservatory
No matter the season, the Hilbert Conservatory offers the ultimate urban escape throughout the year! Enjoy a tropical paradise filled with 5,000 square feet of lush greenery and beautiful blooms.
Its 65-foot ceilings flood the space with light, and the mezzanine level provides a bird’s eye view of the glorious gardens below as well as stunning views of the natural beauty of the outdoor DeHaan Tiergarten. With its gleaming shape visible in the night sky, the Conservatory is an architectural complement to the downtown skyline that evokes Indiana’s agricultural heritage.
Inside the Conservatory, look for exotic palm trees and ferns, flowering plants such as orchids and bougainvillea—even a fish pond. The blown glass windows along the north end of the Conservatory, created by artist Dave McLary, offer a beautiful complement to the space, while the center font by sculptor Dale Enochs provides the gentle sounds of flowing water.
Watch for butterflies, bonsai and other species to make special seasonal appearances, too This amazing retreat is a great place to relax for a midday getaway or a nearby weekend adventure.
Butterflies in the Hilbert Conservatory are now gone for 2024 and will return in spring of 2025!
Nestled inside the Hilbert Conservatory is a new featured resident: the ‘ālula (Brighamia insignis). This striking succulent has an important conservation story to tell. Originally found only on cliffsides of the Hawaiian islands of Kaua’i and Ni’ihau, it is now extinct in the wild. Multiple threats have taken their toll on its population: non-native species, landslides, hurricanes, climate change and more.
‘Ālulas are now propagated only in botanical gardens like ours. We support efforts by the National Tropical Botanical Garden to restore the lost bond between the ‘ālula and its likely pollinator, an insect called the fabulous green sphynx moth. Their goal is to one day return the ‘ālula to its home island.
Be sure to see this special plant in the Hilbert Conservatory on your next visit to the Indianapolis Zoo.