UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Attached to the Buckhout Laboratory in Penn State’s Eberly College of Science, a haven of exotic plants serves as access to fresh air and green space, even through the winter months. The Buckhout Greenhouses provide a way to get up close to flora from around the world, for everyone from students seeking research opportunities to anyone wanting to catch a glimpse of color on an overcast day.
The greenhouses are named after William A. Buckhout, a botanist and professor who taught at the Pennsylvania Agricultural College, which later became Penn State. The facility covers more than 6,200 square feet of the University Park campus.
Portions of the facility, accessible through the Buckhout Lab, are open to the public to explore from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each weekday, and guided tours are available with a request submitted in advance. Visitors can expect to see a wide variety of plants, no matter the season.
“What makes our greenhouse unique is the diversity of plants that we have to offer,” said manager Shawn Burghard. “We have thousands of plants for people to admire as they stroll through.”
In addition, teachers can request use of greenhouse collections for educational purposes in their classes. Its research collections have provided opportunities for discovery and education for more than 50 years.
Certain areas within the Buckhout Greenhouse are reserved for research and education. In those areas, students in Penn State’s biology department can reserve bench space and use the greenhouse for ongoing projects.