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White River Garden
Hilbert Conservatory
Marvel at exotic plant species & fantastically fluttery butterflies.

Hilbert Conservatory

Enjoy a tropical escape right in the heart of downtown Indianapolis!

No matter what the season, the Hilbert Conservatory offers the ultimate urban escape all year round! Enjoy a tropical paradise filled with beautiful blooms and lush greenery.

This amazing retreat is located right in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, and it’s a great place to relax for a midday getaway or a nearby weekend adventure.

The warm, aromatic indoor garden features 5,000 square feet of lush, tropical greenery. The 65-foot ceilings flood the space with light, and the mezzanine level provides a bird’s eye view of the glorious gardens below as well as stunning view of the natural beauty of the outdoor DeHaan Tiergarten. With its gleaming shape visible in the night sky, the Conservatory is an architectural complement to the downtown skyline.

Inside the Conservatory, look for the exotic palm trees, flowering plantscapes and a small fish pond. The blown glass windows along the entrance of the Conservatory, which were created by glass artist Dave McLary, offer a beautiful transition to the space while the center font by sculptor Dale Enochs provides the gentle sounds of flowing water.

This beautiful space will inspire you to bring the outdoors inside your own home!

Bonsai

Following the reopening of the White River Gardens, the Hilbert Conservatory is bringing back a favorite event — bonsai!

This fall, guests can enjoy seeing 20 unique unique specimens from the Indianapolis Bonsai Club. You might even learn a few tips and tricks to inspire you to bring the beauty of bonsai into your own home!

What began as an Asian art form is now a popular plant pastime worldwide. Bonsai trees are planted in shallow trays and are formed, pruned and cared for to create miniature versions of a variety of tree types. Bonsai are not a specific type of tree, rather any species with smaller sized leaves. Even fruiting and flowering trees can be used.

Date: Sept. 11 – Jan. 2, 2024

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Fantastically Fluttery
After being gone for over a year through construction, the Butterflies are back!

Set against the vibrant greenery of the tropical plants, visitors can once again enjoy colorful butterflies taking flight during their visit to the Hilbert Conservatory this summer.

Guests can also explore the life cycle of a butterfly at our incubator filled with chrysalises—butterflies in the making from their caterpillar stage. Interpretive graphics will help guests learn about important adaptations of butterflies that help them survive and thrive in the wild, plus conservation ideas about how to support butterflies in their own outdoor spaces. 

Featured butterflies vary from year to year but are selected from over 40 different possible species. Favorites include Julias, longwings and postmans, morphos, Mormons and Helens and malachites. 

*Seasonal Attraction*

Host your event in the Hilbert Conservatory!

Whether it is a company party, boardroom meeting or wedding, the Hilbert Conservatory is perfect to host your next event. The Hulman Riverhouse, located inside the Hilbert Conservatory, gives guests a beautiful view of downtown Indianapolis and the White River. Events held in the evening receive exclusive access to the Grand Hallway, outdoor terrace and Schaefer Rotunda. Catering and A/V options are also available for events.

The option to buy out the Hilbert Conservatory and White Rivers Gardens for your event is also available. Learn more about hosting your next event in the Hilbert Conservatory.