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 is the oldest and most architecturally significant glasshouse at Allan Gardens. The Palm House was built in 1910 by City of Toronto architect Robert McCallum after a 1902 fire destroyed the old botanical pavilion on site. In 2022, restoration began on to modernize the climate control system and rejuvenate the building envelope including the windows and steel framing. In 2025, the restoration was completed, and the Palm House reopened to much fanfare on May 17th, 2025.
The restored Palm House contains palms from all over the word, including Bismarckias, Washingtonias, Foxtail Palms, Australian tree ferns, and more. Inspired by the original botanical pavilion onsite, the newly restored Palm House will temporarily be a flexible space for horticulture and community gatherings, at least until the new greenhouse link building is constructed. In the future, the Friends of Allan Gardens hope to restore the large central planting beds in the Palm House so towering palms may make full use of the dome’s 12 metre (40’) high glass ceilings, and abundant sunlight.
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.
