The Rockefeller Park Greenhouse, located just off of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near University Circle in Cleveland, houses a wonderful and diverse collection of exotic and native plants. Admission to the greenhouse is free, and highlights include the extensive orchid and tropical plant exhibits, as well as the spring bulb and December holiday plant displays.
History
The concept of the Rockefeller Park Greenhouse originated in 1903 and was completed in 1905, utilizing part of a 270-acre tract donated to the city of Cleveland by industrialist John D. Rockefeller. Initially, the greenhouse was intended to nurture plants for the city’s parks; however, it later expanded to include display gardens.
Throughout the years, the facility has expanded to include new garden areas, a new entrance, a central lobby, and a meeting room. Today, the greenhouse and gardens are regarded as a premier botanical facility featuring specialty plant collections, seasonal floral displays, and theme gardens.
Exhibits
The Rockefeller Park Greenhouse consists of both outdoor and indoor gardens. Key features include:
- A formal Japanese Garden, established in the 1960s
- A desert-like Latin American garden
- A vibrant tropical garden
- The serene outdoor Peace Garden
The gardens are typically not crowded, providing a tranquil oasis on warm, hectic days.
Special Exhibits and Events
Aside from the permanent exhibits, the Rockefeller Park Greenhouse hosts various seasonal displays. Notably, the elaborate holiday plant display in December is highly popular, featuring rows of poinsettias and other festive plants, along with a fall bulb sale and a spring iris sale sponsored by the Friends of Rockefeller Park Greenhouse.
Weddings
The Greenhouse offers its facility as a wedding venue. It can accommodate up to 75 people during regular hours and 50 guests for indoor-only weddings. Consequently, fees for Cleveland residents are less than those for non-residents.
Planning a Visit
The Rockefeller Park Greenhouse is conveniently accessible from both sides of Cleveland, located just off I-90 at MLK Boulevard. The greenhouse is open daily throughout the year.
Address:
750 East 88th Street
Cleveland, OH 44108
Other Public Gardens
The Rockefeller Park Greenhouse is a short walk or ride from the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, which line both sides of MLK Jr. Boulevard between I-90 and University Circle. The Cultural Gardens comprise 31 individual gardens representing the diverse ethnic and community groups that comprise Greater Cleveland. First conceptualized in 1916, these gardens visually showcase the region’s cultural richness.
Additionally, visitors can explore the Cleveland Botanical Garden at University Circle, Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, and the Kingwood Center gardens in Mansfield.
