Katsura
- Scientific Name
- Cercidiphyllum japonicum
The Arnold Arboretum’s oldest katsura arrived as seed in 1878. The story of how it came here is the opening of long series of exchanges between the Arboretum and researchers in Japan.
Plants
Background
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
- Plant Exploration →
- Plant Conservation →
- Collection Statistics →
- Collections Management →
- Landscape and Collections Care →
- Greenhouse and Growing →
- Campaign for the Living Collections →
- Spontaneous Flora →
- Arboretum Explorer Interactive Map →
- Plant Search →
- Plant Image Search →
- Herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum →
- Plant Introductions →
Plant Bios
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524-48*AA
Map it ↗
Dawn Redwood
- Scientific Name
- Metasequoia glyptostroboides
This dawn redwood was grown from seed brought to the Arboretum in 1948 from China. Widespread during the Mesozoic Era (around 252 to 66 million years ago), dawn redwood narrowly escaped extinction. Today, it is a common feature among botanical gardens and parks across the temperate world.
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![Magnolia ×loebneri 'Merrill' early spring]()
Flowers emerge before foliage in early spring. -
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Habit of ‘Prostrate Beauty’ Korean fir. -
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Acer rubrum 'Schlesingerii' (red maple) 3256*A. -
![Flowers of Malus 'Donald Wyman']()
Pink buds of the Donald Wyman crabapples open to reveal single white flowers. -
![Lilac Sunday with flowers viewed from distance to see full form]()
Syringa x chinensis 'Lilac Sunday' 164-96*A -
![Bigleaf Magnolia]()
Magnolia macrophylla ssp. macrophylla (Bigleaf Magnolia) 299-2001*A
Collections
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Today's Walks
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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.
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![Ned Friedman]()
Director's TourExperience the Arnold Arboretum’s world-class living collections from Director Ned Friedman’s perspective. Take this tour online or while visiting the Arboretum in person.
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![Michael Dosmann]()
Michael Dosmann Keeper's TourTake a walk with Michael Dosmann, the Keeper of the Arboretum’s living collections. Take this tour online or while visiting the Arboretum in person.
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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. If you’re at the Arboretum, click here to take a version of this tour with Expeditions, our mobile web app.
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![Workmen constructing the South Street Gate area of the Arboretum photographed in 1889.]()
Workmen constructing the South Street Gate area of the Arboretum photographed in 1889. A Walk Through Time, Part 1Walk with Landscape Architect Rosetta S. Elkin and Arboretum Archivist Lisa E. Pearson.
Expeditions Unveiled
See more expeditions →A NACPEC Expedition in North America
Exploring the botanical diversity of Appalachia with international collaborators
