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The Conservatory supports the instructional and research programs of Miami University, to maintain a scientifically verified collection of plants and flowers, to enhance the knowledge and appreciation of plants and flowers through public education and interpretive programs, and to promote the conservation of natural resources. Our vision is to promote the betterment of the academic programs of Miami University and the schools and citizens of the region.
Admission to The Conservatory is always free!
Fall Semester 2025 Hours (open to the public):
Hours are subject to change without notice due to staff availability. The Conservatory is closed on all Miami University Holidays.
Please follow us @MURConservatory on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
1601 University Blvd
Hamilton, OH 45011
BCRTA schedules to and from the Hamilton campus.
The Atrium welcomes our visitors, is home to our largest plant specimens, and is gateway to the other collection rooms, the Meeting Room, and The Conservatory's work areas. It features a hexagonal dome topped by a cupola that is illuminated at night to serve as a welcome beacon from the "Gem of Hamilton."
The butterfly garden was established in 2014, by the ECO club (Environmentally Conscious Organization), SGA (Student Government Association) and the Conservatory. In 2015, The Conservatory took over the long term care of the garden. The main function of the garden is to create an aesthetically pleasing space to host Ohio native butterflies.
The Desert Room houses native xerophytes (plants that are heat and drought resistant.) These plants are from Northern Mexico, the US Southwest, North and South Africa, Madagascar, the Middle East, Northwestern India, the South American Southwest, Central Asia, and Australia.
The formal gardens and groves that surround the building contain many native perennial herbs, shrubs, and trees or cultivars of same. These areas are dedicated to sharing with the community the beauty, utility, and versatility of native Ohio plants for landscaping.
The Horticultural Room contains frost-tender plants that would probably not exist but for the care of humans. These include a wide range of colorful cultivars (cultivated varieties) and hybrids.
The tallgrass prairie is a reconstruction of a biome type that was once frequently found in Southwest Ohio that has largely been replaced by farms and urban development. All of the plants in our prairie are native Ohio plant species and their varieties. The current prairie is undergoing an expansion that includes a nature trail that winds through the area to make observing the plants more easy for everyone.
The Tropical Room houses plants that are native to regions of the world that have warm, humid, and relatively uniform climates with frequent rains. These regions are Central America, Northern South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Northern Australia, and various tropical islands.
The Conservatory offers a Research and Teaching room. Access is restricted to students and staff during classes and meetings.
