Availability of Research and Propagation Materials
The living collections of the Arnold Arboretum comprise a valuable genetic resource that represents a large subset of the combined ligneous floras of the North Temperate Zone. Because scientific discovery is central to its mission, the Arboretum strongly encourages and supports research use of its living collections. Scholarship is fostered by providing access to the plants growing in the collection, supplying voucher herbarium specimens, furnishing fresh or preserved tissue, or collecting propagules.
Researchers who wish to access the living collections to conduct on-site experiments or make observations, or to request voucher herbarium specimens or tissue (fresh or dried in silica gel), can send queries to: researchrequests@arnarb.harvard.edu
Written requests should be addressed to:
Curator of Living Collections
The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
125 Arborway
Boston, MA 02130, United States
Please include your name and affiliation, nature of the request, and the taxa of interest. To all extents practicable, curatorial staff can also assist researchers in developing their study.
Many of the taxa in the living collections are of conservation value, due to their endangered, rare or threatened status in the wild. As a consequence, the Arnold Arboretum views its collections as an alternative source of limited amounts of propagation material of these as well as more commonplace but little-known plants. However, the Arboretum does not normally supply propagation materials of plants that are known to us to be generally available from commercial sources in North America. We also retain the right to refuse distribution of propagation material that represents species and/or clones that are planned for introduction on a commercial basis by the Arnold Arboretum, or those which fall under memoranda of understanding with third parties.
With respect to seed requests, it should be noted that seeds collected from Arboretum plants are the result of open pollination, and no guarantee can be made that they will grow true to name. This fact is particularly true for large genera that are represented by many species in our collections. Requests for propagation material, listing the botanical name and the approximate amount of plant material desired, will be collected and processed by the staff as time and weather permits. Requests via e-mail can be made to: propagationrequests@arnarb.harvard.edu
written requests should be addressed to:
Plant Propagator
The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University
125 Arborway
Boston, MA 02130, United States
Requests for material originating in foreign countries must be accompanied by the proper import permits and/or mailing labels for importation purposes. Every effort will be made to supply the requested material, but the number of plants held within our collection and their condition will be the limiting factor. Requests held to a reasonable number, twelve or less, will be filled at a greater speed. Except for requests from sister botanical institutions and academic departments, a fee is charged for propagation materials to offset the costs involved in providing them. A fee will be added to cover inspection by agents of the United States Department of Agriculture for phytosanitary certificates for all foreign orders.
Fee Schedule
Plant Materials
| Seeds | gratis |
| Cuttings and scions | $.50 ea |
| Cuttings and scions of dwarf conifers | $1.00 ea |
| Cuttings and scions of special rare plants | $2.00 ea |
Labor
| Collecting, packaging and shipping (minimum of 1 hour) | $50.00 |
| Aerial lift (necessary for collecting scions and seeds from larger trees) | $150.00/hr |
| Phytosanitary Certificates | $20.00 |
A fee of $20.00 will be added to cover inspection by agents of the United States Department of Agriculture for phytosanitary certificates for all foreign orders.
Postage will be added to all orders.
All shipments will include an invoice; and payment by check in US dollars should be sent upon receipt of the plant material. Prepayment is discouraged inasmuch as cuttings, scions, or seeds of requested plants may not be available. If the cost of the order is expected to be high, notification will be made before a request is processed.
We strongly encourage individuals and corporations to become members of the Friends of the Arnold Arboretum. When propagation material is limited, members' requests are given priority. We are pleased to be able to share our resources with botanists and horticulturists throughout the world.