Cleveland Botanical Garden

The Cleveland Botanical Garden is a botanical institution in University Circle with outdoor gardens and two climate-controlled glasshouses showcasing plant collections from various environments. The majority of its displays are housed in modern structures designed to recreate different natural habitats.

The institution began in 1930 as a garden center, representing an early experiment in this type of organization in the United States. From this initial foundation, it gradually developed into a major education and display center for plant diversity.

The glasshouse displays two contrasting ecosystems that visitors can walk through directly: a dry landscape with distinctive plants from Madagascar and a lush rainforest from Costa Rica. These spaces offer an immediate sense of how plant environments vary across the world.

The site is located in a residential neighborhood and is easily accessible, with ample parking available for visitors. Plan to spend time exploring both the outdoor gardens and the indoor spaces thoroughly.

The Madagascar section houses free-roaming chameleons that wander among the plants and can be challenging to spot. These living animals turn the visit into a genuine wildlife experience where you encounter actual inhabitants of that landscape.

Location: Cleveland

Website: http://cbgarden.org

GPS coordinates: 41.51085,-81.60946

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:56