This garden, designed by Chinese-born architect Yong Pan, is considered the most authentic of its size in the United States, and a showplace of extraordinary craftsmanship. The Grigg Nanjing Friendship Garden honors the sister city relationship between St. Louis, Missouri and Nanjing, China. The stunning Climatron conservatory has become a symbol of the Missouri Botanical Garden. The geodesic dome was inspired by the design of R. Buckminster Fuller. Covering over a half-acre, the Climatron houses some 1,200 species of plants in a natural, tropical setting.
Visitors enjoy bananas, cacao, and coffee trees, plus a collection of orchids and epiphytes.
The Climatron is also home to a variety of animals, including tropical birds. Several pools and waterfalls give a sense of lushness, as if visitors were within a true tropical rainforest. The Climatron is ever-changing and is an impressive display throughout the year. Learn about plants and their roles in global and regional ecosystems with computerized, interactive exhibits in the attached Brookings Interpretive Center . The Shoenberg Temperate House complements the Climatron , flanking the domed structure to the north.