Palm House at Franklin Park Conservatory

The oldest section of the Franklin Park Conservatory is the Palm House that was built in 1895. The Palm House has, at last count, 45 species in its collection of tropical palm plants.

At the center of the rectangular glass house is a bubbling water fountain; other exhibits throughout complement the tropical plants. There is architectural lighting that provides a nighttime light show and two pieces of Dale Chihuly’s glass artwork, called Chandeliers, are in the Palm House.

Tropical Palm Tree Collection

Here are a few tropical palm trees from the collection to consider finding while visiting and collecting ideas for the home garden:

• Cycas revolute is commonly called sago palm. The plant has a relatively short trunk but very stiff leaves making it suitable for out of the way locations at home. It is a good houseplant choice because it tolerates medium indoor light, lower temperatures and is slow growing.

• Latania loddigesii, called blue latan palm has bluish green waxy leaves and creates a stiff canopy of fronds. Indoors, it requires bright indirect sunlight and high humidity but is hardy in zones 10 and 11 in the United States.

• Livistona chinensis, also called the Chinese fan palm, has rounded fan shaped fronds that eventually grows to a very large plant. This palm grows best in bright indoor light and moist organic rich soil.

Fiddle Leaf Fig

The Ficus lyrata in the Palm House is one of the original trees planted, making it over 110 years old. Although not a palm plant, it makes a dramatic show as the leaves reach to the glass ceiling.

Ficus lyrata, commonly called fiddle leaf fig, is an upright tropical plant that can grow to five feet tall in a home garden. The leaves have a distinctive shape and branching that requires space to grow well. Fiddle leaf fig does not need repotting often and thrives in medium indoor light.

Architectural Lighting and Chihuly Artwork

The architectural lighting called Light Raiment created by John Turrell and installed in 2008 is a permanent installation in the Palm House. It puts on a light show every evening at dusk.

A collection of Dale Chihuly’s glass artwork was purchased by Franklin Park Conservatory and is on display throughout the indoor gardens.

Franklin Park Conservatory

The Conservatory has many educational programs, including the Growing to Green program that started in 2000. More information is available about community garden projects and other demonstration exhibits at Franklin Park Conservatory.

Franklin Park Conservatory is open Tuesday through Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Wednesdays 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. The website is another excellent place to find seasonal and workshop events.

Here is more information about the best tropical plants for indoor gardens and the sentry palm that can also be grown as a houseplant.