The Six Display Houses

Since the 1870s the conservatories at Allan Gardens have nurtured the world’s plants under glass for public enjoyment. Tropical plants from all over the globe are nurtured inside six climate controlled greenhouses! Read more about them below.

A rarity in North American downtowns, Allan Gardens’ enchanting assembly of conservatories and the historic Palm House nurture exotic plant life and exuberant floral displays across four seasons, and give winter weary Torontonians warmth, oxygen and a reminder of nature’s leafy abundance. 

Skilled City of Toronto horticulturalists care for the permanent plant collection year round.

The Palm House

Also known as “The Dome”, this historic glasshouse contains palms, bananas and other taller specimens under its 12 metre high (40’) and 18 metre (60’) diameter hexadecagonal (16 sided) dome. A glazed cupola crowns the dome, and this feature is repeated in the smaller glass domes sheltering the entry pavilions. Built in 1932, the Palm House is the oldest of the greenhouses at Allan Gardens. This greenhouse has under 2 major rejuvenations:

  • 1902 Fire destroys building. New Palm House built in 1920 which was designed by Robert McCallum.

  • 2022: Restoration begins including window glazing, glass cladding replacement and functional modernization of the ventilation and air quality systems and controls.

The Temperate House

The Temperate House (added in 1924) houses luscious greenery and a small koi pond. It contains plants such as citrus & olive trees, camellias, and jasmine with rotating seasonal floral displays. Your senses will be taken on a fragrant tour of sweet serenity and lemony meringue. Prepare to be lifted away from the noise of the city and transported to a green getaway filled with the calming song of rippling water.

The Tropical House

The Tropical House, added in 1956, offers lush exotics such as cycads, gingers, hibiscus, brugmansia and a green jade vine. Once you step into this tropical oasis you are instantaneously transported to the Amazon rainforest where the colours are in brilliant hues and the animal sounds are plenty. Notice yourself getting lost for hours in this sensory vacation.

The Orchid & Bromeliad House

The two connected greenhouses (added in 1957 from the Exhibition Grounds) feature a waterwheel, wooden bridge, a pond with turtles and a wide variety of interesting plants including orchids, bromeliads, air plants and gesneriads. It contains a beautiful display of colors such as stunning collection of orchids and bromeliads mixed with a variety of flowering tropical plants and vines.

The Arid House

The Arid House, added in 1957 from the Exhibition Grounds, is home to a large display of unusual cacti and succulents including collections of barrel cactus, agave, opuntia, haworthia and aloe. Just as the plants love the sun, feel yourself getting warmed and energized. Observe city staff in the wild as they wrangle the (snake) watering hose to hydrate the plants. Tour the desert with us as you clamber through dense cacti and beautiful succulents.