Plants

The Arnold Arboretum’s living collections are celebrated as some of the most comprehensive and best documented of their kind. Its rich holdings include temperate ligneous plants from around the world. Many of the plants originate from collecting expeditions, others derive from horticultural experimentation, and some were existing vegetation when the Arboretum was founded in 1872. Each of these plants—over 15,000 in all—has a story to tell, and they are preserved as both scientific and horticultural specimens to enrich our understanding of biodiversity through the institution’s research, education, and outreach efforts.

Sections

1476*B

Colorado Blue Spruce

Scientific Name: Picea pungens

This Colorado blue spruce, collected in 1874, shows a clear connection between the Arnold Arboretum and Asa Gray, a celebrated Harvard botanist. The tree is among the oldest plants of known wild origin growing at the Arnold Arboretum.

14599*A

Parasol Beech

Scientific Name: Fagus sylvatica 'Tortuosa'

Among the many weeping trees at the Arnold Arboretum, this mutant European beech is among the most magnificent. Its shoots spiral, twist, and even loop.

Bonsai & Penjing Collection

Illustration of small-leaved rose by Charles Faxon

Bradley Rosaceous Collection

Our self-guided walks are a great way to learn more about our trees and plants from home or as you stroll through the landscape. Forge a deeper connection with the Arnold Arboretum's collections as well as the plants you encounter in your daily life. Explore further with the Expeditions mobile app to hear stories about botany, horticulture, conservation, and Arboretum history through photos, text, and audio segments.