‘Lilac Sunday’
- Scientific Name
- Syringa × chinensis 'Lilac Sunday'
The Arnold Arboretum introduced a lilac called ‘Lilac Sunday’ in 1997. This garden favorite can produce clusters of flowers that are more than two feet long.
The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is a museum of trees teaching the world about plants.
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Chinese Fringetree 13051*A -
Highbush Blueberry 1951*A -
Banded Mountain Laurel 166-70*C -
Cathaya argyrophylla 276-98*B
Featured Event
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Aug
06
Virtual Vinyasa Yoga Class
Join the Emerald Necklace Conservancy for a virtual vinyasa yoga class that will showcase the beautiful surroundings of the Arnold Arboretum – the perfect way to unwind at the end of the day! This virtual yoga session is part of the Conservancy's annual Summer on the Emerald Necklace event.
Explore with Us!
Check out more activites and resources for learning →Expeditions : the Arboretum’s new mobile app
Explore stories about botany, horticulture, conservation, and Arboretum history through photos, text, and audio segments.
Today's Virtual Walks
See all virtual walks →-
![Ned Friedman]()
Director's TourExperience the Arnold Arboretum’s world-class Living Collections from Director Ned Friedman’s perspective. Click here to see this tour on Arb Explorer.
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![Michael Dosmann]()
Michael Dosmann Keeper's TourTake a walk with Michael Dosmann, the Keeper of the Arboretum’s Living Collections. Click here to see this tour on Arb Explorer.
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![Dove tree (Davidia involucrata)]()
Dove tree (Davidia involucrata). Explorers Garden TourThis quarter-mile tour through the Explorers Garden features stories from the Arboretum’s century and a half of collecting plants around the world. Click here to take this tour on Expeditions, the Arboretum’s mobile app.
Stories
Read more stories →Plants & Collections
See more Plants & Collections →
299-2001*A
Map it ↗
Bigleaf Magnolia
- Scientific Name
- Magnolia macrophylla ssp. macrophylla
Bearing the largest simple leaves and flowers of any temperate species in North America, bigleaf magnolia is a striking native of the Southeastern United States. Its exotic foliage, fragrant flowers, and showy fruit make it a popular specimen tree in gardens and arboreta.
Community
We are and everyone in between.
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![Jim Papargiris]()
For the last 41 years, it has been an honor and privilege to contribute to the stewardship of the collections and landscape of the Arnold Arboretum. I feel a sense of gratitude and accomplishment each day and although there have been challenging times from winter storms, drought, and plant pests, to the world we find ourselves in today, the trees have provided me unwavering inspiration and pride.
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![Ana Maria Caballero McGuire]()
As an Outdoor Educator, I love that I get to translate science and horticulture into hands-on teachable moments for children in our landscape! I also enjoy working with teachers to promote the use of outdoor spaces for meaningful life science education in schools.
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![Rachel Lawlor]()
The community spirit at the Arboretum is truly palpable. From my first exposure as an Aggie intern in 2014, to being a full-time Gardener now, this has only grown. The folks who work here truly care about the Arboretum’s mission—and maybe even more so—about their colleagues.
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![Lawrence Mullings]()
This Place nourishes the Soul as well as the Body. I returned for my health and rediscovered such beauty openly observed and freely given by all who crossed my path. This Palace of the Senses allowed me to create the Path Taken. Maybe my Exhibit can serve as a remainder of days passed, soon to return.
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![Chris McArdle leads a tour.]()
Every tour brings a surprise, even after 36 years! It might be the sun catching the “Ruby Glow” witch hazel in February or the smell of toasted marshmallows from trodden katsura leaves in the fall. A squirrel running up a visitor’s trouser leg was perhaps the biggest surprise of them all.
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![Jacob Suissa]()
As a researcher, I am very fortunate to be part of the Arnold Arboretum community because it feels like a unique place where the advancement of science and knowledge is deeply enmeshed with the endeavors of a public garden.
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![Roestta Elkin, Harvard GSD Professor Headshot]()
Many students have never held a root in their hand, never looked at a flower very carefully, never even thought about tree architecture the study of plant form. We’re opening their eyes.
