Support NC State Horticulture and its Plant Conservatory on the Day of Giving 03.25.26

Tucked within the Marye Anne Fox University Student Teaching Labs greenhouse complex at NC State, a biological bridge spans the gap between the humid tropics and the parched desert. Known as the Plant Conservatory, this dual-climate facility houses rainforest and arid plant collections that serve as much more than just a scenic backdrop for the campus.

As NC State prepares for its annual Day of Giving on March 25, 2026, the Department of Horticultural Science is highlighting the Plant Conservatory’s role as a cornerstone of experiential learning. Support of the Horticultural Science Enrichment Fund on Day of Giving ensures the Plant Conservatory can maintain its diverse plant collection, respond to unique educational opportunities, and manage unforeseen challenges within its complex ecosystems.

“The conservatory provides a living laboratory for many courses, a showcase for visitors and a place to relax or study while surrounded by nature’s beauty,” says Diane Mays, Plant Conservatory curator.

For students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), the facility is an essential piece of their academic toolkit. Horticulture students utilize the space to source propagation material for courses ranging from plant micropropagation to tissue culture. Beyond technical skills, the Plant Conservatory offers a rare internship experience where students manage plant production, greenhouse operations and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices.

The impact of the collection extends far beyond horticulture. Plant biology students use the specimens to study morphology, phylogeny and ethnobotany. 

“Joanna Eglinton, director of prospective student engagement for CALS, often requests tours for prospective students and their families to showcase CALS facilities,” Mays says. “Entomologist Steve Frank and his graduate students often walk through the collection, scouting for insects to research or breed for their insectary.”

Meanwhile, plant pathology students use the living collection as a real-world testing ground for scouting diseases and performing virus testing.

“Working with the vast collection of tropical and subtropical plants provides a rare internship experience,” Mays says. “Each semester, students gain broad horticultural and botanical experiences that entail everything from plant growth and maintenance to greenhouse operations and management.”

The facility also serves as an interdisciplinary hub. Biological illustration students visit to capture the intricate details of rare flora, and this spring, the Plant Conservatory is launching a first-time collaboration with the Department of Psychology. Students in environmental psychology will explore therapeutic horticulture through hands-on propagation activities within the greenery.

Perhaps the most famous resident of the Plant Conservatory is Wolfgang, the Amorphophallus titanum, or “corpse flower.” This rare plant has drawn more than 5,000 visitors to campus over the years during its infrequent and dramatic flowering events. The conservatory staff uses these moments to disseminate horticultural and botanical knowledge to the public through educational posters and interactive sessions.

While the facility is not open to the general public daily, it serves as a vital outreach center for homeschool groups, Extension Master Gardeners and local garden clubs. For the campus community, it remains a sanctuary — a place where students are often found decompressing, taking online courses, or simply warming up in the winter among the tropical foliage.

Financial support through the Horticultural Science Enrichment Fund is critical to maintaining these unique impacts. 

“It’s about providing hands-on experiences and plant samples to study plant characteristics that supplement textbooks,” Mays says.

As March 25 approaches, the Department of Horticultural Science looks to ensure this “tropical jungle” in the heart of Raleigh remains a place where students can learn, grow and occasionally enjoy lunch under a canopy of green.