The Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse

A dazzling journey across continents to Exotic Madagascar and Verdant Costa Rica

The Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse is Cleveland Botanical Garden's spectacular, 18,000 square foot conservatory -- a totally unique experience that immerses you in two distinct, far-away lands. A trip to the Glasshouse is an unforgettable adventure to the spiny desert of Madagascar and the butterfly-filled rainforest of Costa Rica -- without leaving Cleveland!

Featuring more than 350 species of exotic plants and more than 50 species of butterflies, insects, birds, reptiles and amphibians, this remarkable conservatory also shows how plants, animals, geology and climate interact in delicate balance.

The Glasshouse also features some of the strangest plants you've ever seen, including an "upside down" baobab, bottle-shaped pachypodiums, a colossal strangler fig and more.

Although these two diverse ecosystems provide a fun-filled escape, they also offer much more. For example, did you know that some plants from Costa Rica and Madagascar are used to improve the health and well-being of people right here in Ohio? Visit the Glasshouse and discover fascinating facts about how these plants impact life in our own backyard.

Prepare for your visit with our Glasshouse Field Guide.

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