Day Butterfly Center

  • Day Butterfly Center
  • Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Cosmos
  • Blue Morpho on Shrimp Plant
  • Tailed Jay on Orange Geiger
  • Violet Clipper on Bleeding Heart Vine
  • Malaysian Lacewings on Orchid Tree
  • Dark Blue Tiger on Purple Porterweed
  • Butterflies in Chrysalis Stage
  • Day Butterfly Center Conservatory

Open daily, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Flights of fancy await you in the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, where hundreds of butterflies flutter freely about in one of North America’s largest glass-enclosed tropical butterfly conservatories. The Day Butterfly Center is a living, dynamic environment in which a variety of tropical plants nourish the residents and new arrivals emerge from their chrysalides, dry their wings and begin their very first wing-beats.

Every visit to the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified Day Butterfly Center is a new experience. The plant palette constantly matures and changes, and the butterfly population, comprising more than 50 species, fluctuates in diversity and density due to influences such as amount of available sunshine, season of the year, temperature and stability of the ecosystem.

Don't miss "Butterflies 101," held Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. This fascinating presentation answers questions such as "How can butterflies travel thousands of miles in their lifetime?" and "How do butterflies survive freezing temperatures while hibernating in Winter?"

Each Thursday at 10 a.m., Spring through Fall, join our experts to learn "Gardening for Butterflies." Learn how to attract butterflies to your garden not only for their beauty but for their help in pollination. You will learn how to incorporate the plants needed for all life stages of the butterfly. After the lesson, head to the Day Butterfly Center Gift Shop to purchase seeds to start your own butterfly garden!