T-Shaped Royal Victorian Orangeries: Sizes, Prices and Which to Choose (2026)

A T-shaped Royal Victorian orangery is a freestanding glass greenhouse with a T-shaped floor plan. A center bay sticks out from the long side, so it looks grander than a plain rectangle. It also gives you two growing wings plus a sunny bay for seating or big potted trees.

We are a small, woman-owned greenhouse business in Georgia, and orangeries are some of our favorite greenhouses to help customers choose. This guide covers each model's size, features, foundation and price, so you can pick the right one.

What is a T-shaped Royal Victorian orangery?

Think of a classic Victorian glass greenhouse, then add a second gabled section across the middle. Seen from above, the floor plan forms a T. That cross section gives you an extra gable end with its own peak and glass.

Janssens of Belgium makes the best-known versions. Exaco brings them to the US, and we sell and support them. Alton makes cedar-framed T-shaped orangeries in the UK.

• The look: tall glass walls, a steep roof and ridge cresting, like a small Victorian conservatory.
• The layout: benches in the two wings, with an open bay for chairs, a table or citrus trees.
• The use: part greenhouse, part garden room.

Why is it called an orangery?

The name comes from history. Wealthy European households once grew orange and lemon trees in large tubs. Those trees couldn't survive a northern winter outdoors.

So they built bright, sheltered buildings with big south-facing windows to keep the trees over winter. Orangeries spread across Europe in the 1600s and 1700s. The Orangerie at the Palace of Versailles, built in the 1680s, is one of the most famous.

Today the word means different things in different places. In the UK, an "orangery" is often a brick home extension with a glass roof lantern. Our orangeries are freestanding glass greenhouses that borrow the grand look. And yes, they are great for growing citrus.

Which T-shaped orangeries can you buy? Models compared

Here are the T-shaped orangeries we carry today. All specs come from the manufacturers' product pages.

Model	Size (D x W x peak)	Floor area	Frame and glass	Price guide*
Janssens Junior Victorian Orangerie	10'3" x 12'6" x 8'2"	~116 sq ft	Aluminum, 4mm tempered	~$11,984
Janssens Royal Victorian Orangerie	12'10" x 15'6" x 9'	~185 sq ft	Aluminum, 4mm tempered	~$21,999
Royal Victorian Antique Orangerie	12'10" x 15'7" x 9'	~185 sq ft	Aluminum, 4mm tempered	~$28,499
Alton Durham Cedar Orangerie	7'5" wide, 12'5" to 20'10" long, 8'10" peak	~88 to 181 sq ft	Cedar, 3mm toughened	from ~$24,882
Alton Cambridge Cedar Orangerie	9'10" wide, 12'5" to 20'10" long, 10' peak	~124 to 194 sq ft	Cedar, 3mm toughened	from ~$26,317

*Prices checked in October 2026. Prices can change and sales may apply, so click the model name to see today's price.

What do you get with the Junior Victorian Orangerie?

The Junior is the entry point to the T-shaped look. It measures 10'3" deep by 12'6" wide with an 8'2" peak. That gives you about 116 sq ft of floor.

• 4mm tempered glass in rubber seals, with single-piece panes.
• Heavy-duty square hollow tube framing, like the Royal Victorian.
• 5' side walls with large gutters and downspouts.
• 2 roof windows with automatic openers.
• One sliding door that can go on a gable end.
• A 4¼" foundation frame, in black.

The lower 5' walls keep the cost down. You will stoop a little at the edges, but the center is roomy.

Why is the Royal Victorian Orangerie the best all-round pick?

The Royal Victorian Orangerie gives you 185 sq ft and tall 6'7" side walls. You can stand and work right up to the glass. It comes in black or dark green.

• Vents: 3 roof windows (2 automatic, 1 hand-turned spindle) plus 2 louver windows.
• Door: one double sliding door. Hinged doors are an upgrade.
• Glass: 4mm tempered, single-piece vertical panes in rubber seals.
• Ratings: 115 mph wind (3-second gusts), 28.5 psf ground snow and 20 psf roof live load, per its certification letter.
• Included: a 4¼" foundation frame and automatic window openers.

An optional accessory kit adds a top shelf, a seed tray shelf, a 3-piece shade curtain and a misting system.

How is the Antique Orangerie different?

The Antique has the same 185 sq ft footprint as the Royal, with a more traditional look. It comes in black or white. The biggest difference is the base: it is designed to stand on a 24" high stem wall that you build first.

• 4 roof windows with automatic openers.
• 2 louver windows with automatic openers.
• A set of lockable swinging French doors, about 60" wide.
• Gutters and downspouts included.

The stem wall lifts the whole house up and gives it real presence. It also adds cost and planning. Read our guide to building a greenhouse on a stem wall first.

Should you choose a cedar T-shaped orangery?

Alton makes its Durham and Cambridge T-shaped orangeries in the UK from knot-free Western Red Cedar. They use stainless steel hardware and single sheets of 3mm toughened glass. An aluminum base frame keeps the wood off the ground.

• Durham: 7'5" wide with an 8'10" peak, in three lengths from about 88 to 181 sq ft.
• Cambridge: wider at 9'10", with a taller 10' peak, in three lengths from about 124 to 194 sq ft.
• Both include: automatic roof vents, louvered windows, slatted shelves, a lockable hinged door, gutters and ridge cresting.

Exaco lists a free 10-year framework guarantee on the Alton models. Cedar needs some care. Alton recommends treating the wood about every 3 years. Compare frames in our wooden vs aluminum greenhouse guide.

Which orangery gives you the most space for the money?

Big price gaps make more sense when you compare cost per square foot. Here is a quick way to do it.

The Royal Victorian Orangerie gives a lot of room for the price. The Antique and the cedar models cost more per foot. With those, you pay for style and materials, not extra space.

What foundation does a T-shaped orangery need?

A T-shaped floor plan has more corners than a rectangle. That makes a level, square foundation even more important. Every corner has to line up, or doors and glass won't fit right.

1. Get the foundation drawing from the assembly and foundation document on the product page.
2. Check permits. Larger structures often need one. Ask your town before you order.
3. Choose the base. The Junior and Royal include a 4¼" base frame that sits on your foundation. The Antique needs a 24" stem wall.
4. Check level and square on each section of the T before delivery day.

What can you grow in an orangery?

Citrus is the classic choice. Dwarf lemons, limes and oranges in large pots do well in the bright center bay. You can move them outside for summer if you like.

• Citrus, figs and olive trees in containers.
• Orchids, ferns and tropical houseplants.
• Seedlings and vegetables on benches in the wings.
• Tomatoes and cucumbers trained up the tall walls.

In cold areas, single-pane glass needs some winter heat for tender plants. Our greenhouse heating cost guide helps you size and budget a heater. Add a misting system or greenhouse heater as your collection grows.

How does delivery and assembly work?

We ship every orangery free to the continental US by freight truck, curbside. The truck is usually an 18-wheeler, so tell us about tight roads or low wires. Someone needs to be home to receive it.

A T-shaped orangery is a bigger build than a simple rectangle. Many customers hire a crew. We list trusted independent installers on our Assembly Crews page. You can see every model in our T-shaped orangery collection.

Frequently asked questions