Conservatory of Flowers

I took a long run today in GGP and was feeling cheerful and high on endorphins. I ran by the Conservatory and decided, for the first time, to run up and take a closer look. I didn’t have anything on me but my iPhone and earbuds As my BMW was parked by Kezar Stadium.
As I walked up to the front entrance two elderly people were manning the front entrance. It was about noon time. Both the elderly, white haired man and woman were rude, Gruffy and frankly not friendly at all. I asked a few questions about the Consevatory and they begrudgingly gave me answers like I was some homeless person. I assure you I was not. What a terrible duo to put at your front entrance! What a distasteful first impression. Esp when first greeted by a broad smile. Big turn off.

Plants? How boring… right? Actually, not in this case.
I actually enjoyed exploring this place and seeing plants you wouldn’t think existed. It’s almost like entering a forest more so than a green house. You can find quite a few plants scattered around with fruits that we know of and markers to identify them as so. The cinnamon tree looked as though it had been infested because so many people ripped the leaves to crumble and smell. The other exotic plants are labeled according to their scientific name and there is a link for you to grab more information about them.
The conservatory is split into sections according to categories and environment conditions. If you decide to sit, I would suggest you sit in the potted plant area because the conditions aren’t as humid as the others. This area is also located near the gift shop.
The gift shop worker also mentioned that there used to be huge amazon lotus plants in the past but haven’t been able to grow because the conditions weren’t optimal. He also stated that the conservatory plans on bringing them back and how they you could place a baby on top of the leaf to show how much they can hold. That’s something to look forward to.
Admissions is $ 8 per person but $ 6 if you have student ID. The outside of the conservatory is already lovely to sit and relax especially on a nice day.

Beautiful of course, educational and love how they kept so many of the vintage details that makes it beautiful.

I was exhausted from walking around the city on my one day in SF, but when I saw the pretty Conservatory of Flowers building, I just had to stop in. It was a weekday so there were very few people in there, and it was so nice to just wander from room to room admiring all the different plants and flowers.
The admission was $ 8 and the place isn’t really that big, but you can certainly take your time and spend an enjoyable hour. It’s humid in some of the rooms but it feels so great to breathe it all in. I had to go through rather quickly but I would definitely come back and spend more time. I loved the wall of flowers behind the reception counter!

There are tons of plants from all over the world here. It is a must visit if you are in San Francisco. If you love plants and fresh air than this is definitely the place for you. The price of admission for an adult is $ 8 but it is $ 6 if you have a student ID. The Conservatory has a sign saying that they are the best place for a first date. It is definitely up there. The only downside is that I thought there would be more flowers. It has a lot more plants than flowers.

Wow so, I really didn’t know what to expect (despite reading the reviews) but I was really impressed! Just the outside and walking up to the conservatory is totally worth the visit, it’s beautiful! Be prepared, it’s humid in here! It’s amazing all the different kinds of plants and flowers they fit. When you walk into the center room, then there are two rooms out to each side so a total of 5 spaces of flowers. The Amazon soundtrack adds to the ambiance and everything is labeled well. A fun, different way to spend the morning in the city. Would definitely recommend.

Do you like plants? Are flowers really a girls best friend? Do you like to breath clean oxygen? Then you should visit the Conservatory of Flowers inside Golden Gate Park. The place is teeming with plant life from all over, and it’s seperated into different sections that make for an informative and somewhat romantic journey throughout the plant world.
They are closed on Mondays, so be sure to check dates and times before cabbing it over (rookie mistake on my part). While I really enjoyed my visit, I do wish there was more to see or do there– the husband and I got through the entire greenhouse in about an hour, going slowly and taking lots of photos. If you like intersting plants and flowers, you’ll love it, but for $ 8 per adult it seems a bit steep for only ~1 hour of enjoyment.
The place also boasts of «Best place for a first date in SF», so if you’re looking for a great first date spot, maybe give the conservatory a thought.

Out of all the things that you can do at Golden Gate Park, the conservatory is for sure one that you should check out. If you like greenhouses or admire plants and flowers, then this is an absolute NO BRAINER for you.
I would check out some free days or discounts because even though it’s only $ 8 per ticket, if you have a group with you, they add up. So I’d definitely ask about student discounts or other discounts in general.
It’s a beautiful conservatory. It felt like a dream inside to be honest. It was expectedly hot and moist inside so be prepared for that.
I recommend checking out the lily ponds and taking a lot of pictures. It’s a really photogenic place. And also when you’re done, right outside is a huge field where you can just relax.
Overall, it’s a great section in Golden Gate Park and if you’re questioning where to stop at and you don’t have much time, I definitely recommend going here.

The conservatory of Flowers wasn’t on my list of places to visit, but I decided to stop by on the free day. Every first Tuesday of the month is a free day to all visitors. General admission is $ 8 for adults, $ 6 for youths ages 12 – 17, and $ 2 for children ages 5 – 11.
This is a great place to visit on a chilly day as inside temperature is around 85 °F or 29C and humidity controlled. I recommend taking the public tours which are available on most days. The tour times are 11am, 12:30pm, and 2:30pm. There were lots of beautiful flowers and plants. The conservatory is broken up into 5 different galleries– potted plants, lowland tropics, highland tropics, aquatic plants, and special exhibits. My favorite was the aquatic plants. I would recommend if you are already in the park and looking to pass time.

Okay, you really can’t complain about the crowd if you go the first Tuesday of the month because general admission is FREE that day! It was super exciting to check this place out. When we walked in, there was this adorable little old later in a gardening apron who greeted us & told us to enjoy. NOTE: Although it is fall in SF & quite chilly, once you open the doors of the conservatory, it really does feel like you walked into a rainforest – it’s humid. Not only was this cool considering it was like a mini escape from suburbia/​downtown, Idunno, there’s something therapeutic knowing that these plants are being taken care of by professionals who know A LOT about plants and the type of environment each one needs to be in to remain as beautiful as they look on everyone’s instagrams.
There is a tour provided, but to be honest the place is so compact & since it’s in a dome like construction, you can hear the tour guide pretty much wherever you walk. This is also a very cute daytime date to do & you can have a picnic in front right after or walk along the trail of the park to check out California’s Academy of Sciences &/​or the de Young (which is also free on the first Tuesdays of the month) and take even more great pictures on the Music Concourse! If you’re into scenic or looking for something of that sort in the city, this is def a good go-​to spot.

This temple to the flora never fails to move me to that sweet spot of reflection, calm and awe. The contrast of «the big city» — Market Street, big city politics, despair and the Conservatory of Flowers; geographically so close, but so far apart in substance. The collection of plants is an overdose of botanical magnificence! I want to race to the next display but force myself to sit on each benches for at least 5 minutes so that I appreciate what is there. Some of the flowers are so small or the details so subtle that it is impossible to see without giving the plant your full attention. The experience is a bit like driving a car, riding a bike, walking or crawling. Each mode of travel offers much more possibilities for experiencing the smells, sights and casual reflections: why is the flower that color, that shape, and adapted for that location?
Being in the Conservatory with all of the different plants is quite comforting. Had a bad day? Not feeling secure about the future? Go sit on one of the benches in the Conservatory and and carefully look at each of the plants that surround you. Feel the harmony? You are part of it all if you choose to be. I was there on Thursday afternoon. All the benches were empty — except when I was there… and I don’t go there that often, so you should find plenty of room on the benches to rest and reflect.

I’ll just start off saying I’m a little obsessed with flowers, so maybe you will have a better grasp of why this magical place was one of the great highlights of my visit to Golden Gate Park. It all begins with a ticket purchase… You then enter a huge room of tropical wonder, and the building branches off from here. There are separate rooms for different types of plants that need different temperatures to thrive, and thrive they do! There must be an army of hidden elves that keep this place up and running because I only noticed 3 employees the entire time I was there.
There are a total of 5 different rooms: Aquatic Plants, Highland Tropics, Lowland Tropics, Potted Plants, and a Special Exhibit. The special exhibit while I visited was called Stranded Tropical Island Survival. They do offer free tours through some of the rooms, and the workers will walk through and inform as many people as possible the tour is about to begin so anyone who wants can partake. Maybe I should have done the tour, but I passed on it. Little regrets…
I’d have to say my absolute favorite room was the Potted Plant room. There was such a variety of plants and flowers in this room, and the flowers were vibrant and plentiful. I believe I spent most of my time in here with the potted plants. There are a few benches in the room and if you can take the time to sit for a few minutes as the other visitors wander about eventually you will find yourself in the room alone, and only then can you really appreciate the beauty and the hard work it takes to keep everything alive.
Some items that will keep me coming back to the Conservatory are the fact that they have a variety of flowers on the front lawn, so it will likely be different each time I visit, and it’s always beautiful. They have different flowers in bloom at different times of the year, so that can make for an new experience each visit. Last, but not least, I’m a flower nerd. I’ll always want to visit this beautiful place.
(If you have a valid San Francisco I.D. you get a discount on your ticket, and admission is free every first Tuesday of the month except for groups)

Beautiful everything. My mom would love it here so much and I will definitely take her next time she’s in town.
I loved all the orchids. The different rooms were fascinating with all the weird/​wonderful/​beautiful/​exotic plants. I loved the little pools with fish in them. This is a great place to come and play with your camera doing nice macro shots of petals with dew drops on them. Make your own postcard style!
I also came during the «Stranded! Tropical Island Survival» exhibit. While it was hard to know what plants they were specifically referring to in their signage, it was so much fun reading all these facts and survival tips on how to live off coconuts and palm trees.
Free entrance on the first Tuesday of every month, but be prepared to wait in line a bit. Don’t let that deter you though!

Absolutely gorgeous. I love playing tourist in my own city. They have all sorts of plants and trees inside. My personal favorites are all the orchids.
Tip:
Every first Tuesday of the month is free
If you’re coming on the free museum day, prepare to wait in line

The Conservatory of Flowers is one of my favorite places in San Francisco. Ordered from England as a kit and assembled and given to the city, it’s been a landmark since 1878. A team of volunteers lovingly maintains this building and everything in it. Don’t touch the plants! It’s SO HARD not to but you understand why they say it. With as many visitors as it gets, they would be ragged. Kids, touch with your eyes.
Not unusual to find oneself freezing in San Francisco, a group of us headed here one weekend to warm up. Sure, you could sit in a bar and have a drink, but it isn’t as magical as entering a tropical wonderland. It isn’t a huge place, you can be done with it in an hour, but everything is so artfully arranged that you’ll spend that hour in awe at the beauty of nature. It’s worth noting that it gets hotter in here in accordance with the outside temperature so in summer there will be more blooms but it will be much hotter as well.
It costs $ 8 to get in or $ 5 for seniors, students and S.F. locals with I.D. There is a small snack cart outside but basically this is a standalone experience. The gift shop has a few items of interest but won’t detain you. What might is the smashed penny machine in the lobby that attracted quite a bit of attention when we were there.
Photographers — this is a fantastic place to take photos! Colors, details, patterns, textures. Incredible light. It can be a little crowded on weekends but people are very accommodating and polite in the calming presence of plants.
I saw a pineapple growing and cocoa pods on a cocoa plant, two things I’d never seen. I didn’t know pineapple was a bromeliad! So cool. The last room has a changing exhibit and this trip is was How to Survive in the Tropics ala Gilligan’s Island. It was so fun and whimsical, I really loved it. Totally entertaining and educational.
This room has a resident turtle who poses for pictures on a rock and goldfish who gulp air in unison. I thought this was really cute until I Googled it and found that it indicates water with too much ammonia from fish poo in it. UGH! I don’t like any animals in captivity and while they’re cute, I’m not sure the conservatory needs these fish. Volunteers — please investigate!

Need an idea for a cheap date? Why not a place to explore the world of botanical gardens? This is your place for an hours worth of seeing, smelling, touching and hearing about a huge variety of gorgeous flowers, intrigue plants, and towering trees.
Super cheap to enter the Conservatory, it’s well worth taking a stroll around the tropical rain forest-​like rooms. The guides that walk around are full of fascinating information about the plants and facts about the building. Also, each plant is labeled, which I truly appreciate.

Free admission day. Come, marvel at the magnificent diversity and microclimes in which they grow.
Adaptation and evolutionary features (living in water) make one take heed and pause to appreciate this wild, woolly, wacky world of flowers!

A beautiful day here in Golden Gate Park. Who would have thought it could be so warm in mid-​February!
I walked by the Conservatory of Flowers and admired the lawn-​floral display and enjoyed seeing all the families/​couples/​singles/​tourists walking around admiring the structure.
There is a lot of history to the CF.
And inside the variety of plants on display from different global regions is impressive.
Where else can you see beautiful plants which my also have deadly intentions (eating prey)…
So the next time you walk through the park and you find you have some time, stop into the Conservatory of Flowers. You will be enthralled just as I am whenever I’m there.

Another of golden gate park’s hidden gems!
I absolutely loved this old Victorian greenhouse! I think I read that it’s the oldest Victorian greenhouse and it’s so pretty! All the old woods and even some stained glass and I loved the transom — although I love all transoms! :)
We went in January and even on a cold day, it’s really warm and humid in the greenhouse! It is a greenhouse after all! But that’s something to keep in mind if you’re sensitive to that kind of thing!
They had tons and tons of tropical plants! Some carnivorous ones! Lots and lots of orchids! Some interesting and brightly colored tropical plants! As well as some interesting food related plants — think cinnamon, vanilla pods, bananas and pineapples!
It truly is a unique and fun place to at least experience once — especially if you love plants and flowers!
*Also, if you’re into those penny press machines — there is one as soon as you walk in to the right of the door!

I have been to the Conservatory of Flowers many times in my life. I grew up in this area so did come here as a young kid, teen, and then later as an adult. I like to come back here from time to time when I visit San Francisco. Its really quite beautiful.
I highly recommend visiting this spot if you enjoy flowers and plants. The conservatory has some very unique plants as well that are not commonly seen (at least not by me). I loved seeing all the gorgeous flowers.
I do not recall the price to get in but you do pay an entrance fee. Its located in Golden Gate Park and is not that hard to find.
The building is very unique as well and I like the architecture. 5 stars all around for this spot. I hope to return soon.

A worthwhile stop when exploring the park. The façade will stop you in your tracks with its simplistic beauty. Perfect area to pack a picnic and settle in the garden area for a snack or a nap.
Easy to find the entrance and pay. Purchased a map of the park for an additional $ 3. Made for a great souvenir for the scrapbooker in the family (my wife). Entry is a great deal at the student rate of $ 6 person.
Upon entry into the conservatory itself are instantly hit by the feeling of a rainforest. That is a great feeling in terms of the visuals you get (gorgeous, brilliant and lush flowers with pops of color as far as the eye can see). That is NOT a great feeling in terms of the wave of humidity that greats you at the door. This was expected due to the nature of the venue — flora don’t tend to thrive in cold dry environments. I was prepared for my humidity filled experience but happy to leave the building for a breath of fresh, crisp air at the end.
The area is separated in 3 large sections. Going through all at a reasonable pace would be around an hour. Factor in additional time if you yourself are a shutterbug or you enter with a shutterbug. The additional time spent photographing flowers and plants is well spent as there are so many breathtaking flowers that stop you in your tracks.
The growth (overgrowth) makes navigation difficult as the pathways are small and you need to focus on not touching the plants. It makes it a challenge to maneuver in some sections.
Orchids were rampant as presented in a plethora of colors and hues I had never seen before. Hibiscus as large as your hand! The sheer volume of the flowers and plants is incredible — every inch of the building is packed with a botanical wonder!
The ticket offers in and out privileges which makes spending time in their easier. Exploring one area and then stepping outside for a brief respite from the humidity makes the adventure more delightful!
It’s a great respite from the constant bustle of the city — a small space of calm amidst the chaos.
*Small gift shop located on the left hand side for those seeking souvenirs!