Background

Since its founding, the Arnold Arboretum has led the way in plant exploration. Our efforts to collect diverse species from around the globe remain central to our mission. Arboretum collectors gather seeds that become the trees and shrubs in our living collections, along with a rich array of documentation, photographs, and herbarium specimens. Our living collectionslibrary and archives, and herbarium are steeped in the work of plant explorers, past and present. This work continues today, particularly in concert with partnering institutions and organizations, such as the North American-China Plant Exploration Consortium. Discover their journeys below.

Highlights

45 expeditions to United States
25 expeditions to China
11 expeditions to Japan
117 expeditions total

Fun Facts

  • Jackson Dawson, our first propagator, was a master plantsman. During his 43 years at the Arboretum, he raised and distributed throughout the world 450,718 plants and 47,993 packets of seed and received in return from collectors, arboreta, and botanic gardens, 174,200 plants and 27,729 packets of seed. A truly impressive record! 

  • During the ten years that plant explorer Ernest Henry Wilson spent exploring eastern Asia, he collected more than 1,000 unique accessions for the Arnold Arboretum. He sent back around 16,000 herbarium specimens (not including duplicates sent elsewhere) and 2,500 large-format photographs. Today, about 320 plants growing in the Arnold Arboretum’s landscape bear Wilson’s name as the collector.

  • Stephen Spongberg and Richard Weaver’s 1977 collecting trip to Japan and Korea made 505 collections, representing 327 taxa. Today there are 225 plants or descendants of those plants living on our grounds. We can preserve plants that might be in decline by taking cuttings and repropagating them. The new plants are clones and are genetically identical to the plants from which they were derived. 

  • Since 1991, the North America–China Plant Exploration Consortium (NACPEC) has brought together plant collectors from Chinese and American botanical institutions for 17 expeditions. At the Arnold Arboretum, these collaborations have amassed more than 700 distinct collections, with about 940 plants living as of 2020.

Stats

10
campaigns
16
contracts
80
Arboretum expeditions
11
non-Arboretum expeditions
63
countries and territories visited

Expeditions Unveiled

How many plant collecting expeditions have been conducted by the Arnold Arboretum? Before 2014, we were not quite sure. This simple question prompted an Arboretum-wide effort to define, inventory, summarize, and share our history of plant exploration on the web. Expeditions Unveiled is the fruit of our efforts, where we bring our ever-expanding history of plant exploration to our visitors. Explore our past expeditions using the timeline below.

1984 SABE team members and pack train on the way to Huadianba, Yunnan.
1984 SABE team members and pack train on the way to Huadianba, Yunnan. David Boufford, 1984.

Expeditions

1977-present

2022
Expedition to the Great Lakes
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsMichael Dosmann
Other ParticipantsElizabeth Thomas
Other InstitutionsPolly Hill Arboretum
2019
Expedition to Honshu, Japan
Japan
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsMichael Dosmann
Other ParticipantsMineaki Aizawa, Tatsuhiko Shibano
Other InstitutionsUtsunomia University
2019
Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsAndrew Gapinski, Sean Halloran, Jared Rubinstein
Other ParticipantsTao DENG4, Xinfen GAO1, Angela Magnan3, Kang WANG2
Other InstitutionsNorth America-China Plant Exploration Consortium, 2Beijing Botanical Garden, 1Chengdu Institute of Biology, 4Kunming Institute of Botany, 3US National Arboretum
2019
Expedition to Honshu, Japan
Japan
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsStephen Schneider
Other ParticipantsAnthony Aiello1, Ian Jochems2, Mineaki Aizawa3, Tatsuhiko Shibano3, Keiko Satoh4
Other Institutions3Utsunomia University, 1Morris Arboretum, 2Polly Hill Arboretum, 4University of Hokkaido
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsKyle Port and Terry Huang
Other ParticipantsDale Reinhart, Measurements & Special Forest Products Program Manager1; Mark Skinner, Ph.D., Regional Botanist1; Lauri Malmquist, Acting Forest Botany Program Manager, Wenatchee River Ranger District Botanist1; Sean Hogan, Nursery Owner and Principal Designer2; Preston Pew2; Richard Olmstead, Ph.D., Department of Biology Professor3; David Giblin, Ph.D., Research Scientist/Herbarium Collections Manager3
Other Institutions1United States Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region (R6); 2Cistus Nursery (Portland, OR); 3University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
2018
North America-China Plant Exploration Consortium (NACPEC) Western Hubei Plant Collecting Expedition
China
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens, Silica-dried leaves
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsAndrew Gapinski
Other ParticipantsLiang Chengyuan1, Matt Lobdell2, Quan Jian3, Wang Kang3, Peter Zale4, and Zhang Daigui5
Other Institutions1Contracted driver, 2Morton Arboretum, 3Beijing Botanical Garden, 4Longwood Gardens, and 5Jishou University, Huana
2018
Expedition to Honshu, Japan
Japan
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsMichael Dosmann and Stephen Schneider
Other ParticipantsAnthony Aiello1, Mineaki Aizawa2, Todd Rounsaville3, and Tatsuhiko Shibano2
Other Institutions1Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, 2Utsunomia University, 3Polly Hill Arboretum
2018
Arkansas-Oklahoma Expedition
Arkansas, Oklahoma
Event TypeExpedition
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsTiffany Enzenbacher, Kea Woodruff
Other ParticipantsTom Frothingham1, Matt Gamble2, Ethan Lovelace2
Other Institutions1Little Rock Zoo, 2Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
2017
North American-China Plant Exploration Consortium (NACPEC) Sichuan Plant Collecting Expedition
China
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsMichael Dosmann and Andrew Gapinski
Other ParticipantsLI Huaicheng1, QUAN Jian2, Jonathan Shaw3, WANG Kang2
Other Institutions1Chengdu Institute of Biology, 2Beijing Botanical Garden, 3Harvard Magazine
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsMonica Alves, Adam Beck, Rachel Brinkman, Natalie Buckley-Medrano, Alex Burnette, Alexander Disyak, Robert Dowell, Melissa Green, Marcus Jensen, Rachel Lawlor, Elena Leander and Matthew McDermitt
2017
Wisconsin Expedition
Wisconsin
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsTiffany Enzenbacher, Kyle Port
2017
Arkansas-Missouri Expedition
Arkansas, Missouri
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsRobert Dowell, Kea Woodruff
2017
Coastal Southeast Expedition
North Carolina, South Carolina
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsSean Halloran, Jenna Zukswert
Other ParticipantsThomas Clark1, Ethan Kauffman2, Catherine Meholic3, Jessica Slade4
Other Institutions1Polly Hill Arboretum, 2Stoneleigh, 3University of Delaware Botanic Gardens, 4Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsAdam Banks, Adam Beck, Natalie Buckley-Medrano, Giovani Camargo, Wyatt Dixon, Robert Dowell, Andrew Gapinski, Jordan Morgan, Connor Ryan, and Jenna Zukswert
2016
Republic of Georgia Plant Collecting Expedition
Republic of Georgia
Event TypeScouting
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsStephen Schneider
Other ParticipantsTinatin Barblishvili1, Tamaz Darchidze1, Grigoli (“Gigo”) Otari Deisadze1, Andreas Groeger3, Elene Japaridze1, Davit Kharazishvili2, Zurab Manvelidze2, Zurab Schewardnadse4, Tolcha Shetekouri1, Temur Vasadze2
Other Institutions1National Botanical Garden of Georgia, 2Batumi Botanical Garden, 3Munich Botanic Garden, 4Gardenia Nursery
2016
North American-China Plant Exploration Consortium (NACPEC) Sichuan Plant Collecting Expedition
China
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsMichael Dosmann
Other ParticipantsAnthony Aiello1 and Wang Kang2
Other Institutions1Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, 2Beijing Botanical Garden
2016
Kentucky Plant Exploration Trip
Kentucky
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsJenna Zukswert
Other ParticipantsTim Boland1, Julian Campbell, Phillip Douglas2, Jack Johnston, Catherine Meholic3, Todd Rounsaville4
Other Institutions1Polly Hill Arboretum, 2Gainesway Farm, 3Mt Cuba Center, 4The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky
2016
Southern Appalachian Expedition
Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsRobert Dowell, Jenna Zukswert
Other ParticipantsThomas Clark1
Other Institutions1Polly Hill Arboretum
2015
North Idaho Expedition
Idaho
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsKyle Port
Other ParticipantsLarry Hufford1, David Port2, Steve Ullrich1, Paul Warnick3
Other Institutions1Washington State University, 2Harvest House, and 3University of Idaho Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsMichael Dosmann, Ned Friedman
Other ParticipantsGao Xinfen1, Li Meng1, Yin Kaipu1
Other Institutions1Chengdu Institute of Biology; Huanglong Nature Reserve
2014
Arkansas
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens, Silica-dried leaves
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsMichael Dosmann
Other ParticipantsAnthony Aiello1, Brent Baker2, Timothy Boland3, Ian Jochems3, and Theo Witsell2
Other Institutions1Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, 2The Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission (ANHC), and 3The Polly Hill Arboretum
2013
Indiana and Southern Illinois Plant Exploration
Illinois, Indiana
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsMichael Dosmann
Other ParticipantsJonathan Damery
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsMichael Dosmann
Other ParticipantsAnthony Aiello1
Other Institutions1Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania
2011
Twin Tier Trip to New York and Pennsylvania
New York, Pennsylvania
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsMichael Dosmann
Other ParticipantsJeff Carstens1, Andrew Schmitz2, and Mark Widrlechner1
Other Institutions1United States Department of Agriculture and 2The Brenton Arboretum
2010
North American China Plant Exploration Consortium (NACPEC) Expedition to Shaanxi, Hebei, and Beijing
China
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsMichael Dosmann
Other ParticipantsAnthony Aiello1 and Wang Kang2
Other Institutions1Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania and 2Beijing Botanical Garden
2008
Adirondack Expedition
New York
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsMichael Dosmann, Steven Schneider, and John H. Alexander
Other ParticipantsDennis Collins1 and Tim Thibault1
Other Institutions1Mount Auburn Cemetery
2003
Expedition to Sichuan
China
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsJianhua Li
2002
Expedition to Guizhou
China
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsPeter Del Tredici and Jianhua Li
2000
Expedition to Tibet
China
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsSusan Kelley, David Boufford
Other ParticipantsRick Ree1, Brian Perry1
Other Institutions1Harvard University
1997
North American China Plant Exploration Consortium (NACPEC), Expedition to Changbai Shan
China
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsPeter Del Tredici
Other ParticipantsKris Bachtell1, Zhong Linsheng2, Jeff Lynch3, Paul Meyer4, Sheng Ning5, Zhao Shuqing2, Sun Long Xing6, Charles Tubesing7, Cao Wei2, and Wang Xianli2
Other Institutions1The Morton Arboretum, 2Shenyang Institute of Applied Ecology, 3Longwood Gardens, 4The Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, 5Nanjing Botanical Garden, 6Changbai Xian Forestry Department, and 7The Holden Arboretum
1997
Expedition to Yunnan and Sichuan
China
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsSteven A. Spongberg and Andy Bell
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsPeter Del Tredici
Other ParticipantsKevin Conrad1, Paul Meyer2, Bill Thomas3, Mao Cailiang4, and Hao Riming4
Other Institutions1United States National Arboretum, 2The Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, 3Longwood Gardens, 4Nanjing Botanical Gardens
1989
Eastern China Expedition
China
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsRobert G. Nicholson
Other ParticipantsMark Schwartz
Other InstitutionsCenter for Plant Conservation
1987
Southwestern States Expedition
Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsPeter Del Tredici
1986
Expedition to Bhutan
Bhutan
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsDavid E. Boufford
Other ParticipantsBruce Bartholomew1
Other Institutions1California Academy of Sciences
1986 – 1989
Southeastern States Expedition (Center for Plant Conservation Campaign)
Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Republic of Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsRobert G. Nicholson
Other InstitutionsCenter for Plant Conservation
1986
Third Sino-American Botanical Expedition
China
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsPeter Del Tredici
1985
Southeastern States Expedition (Center for Plant Conservation Campaign)
Florida, North Carolina, Republic of Georgia, Tennessee
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsRobert G. Nicholson
Other InstitutionsCenter for Plant Conservation
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsDavid E. Boufford
Other ParticipantsBruce Bartholomew1, Daniel H. Nicholson2, Paul L. Redfearn3
Other Institutions1California Academy of Sciences, 2Smithsonian Institution, 3Missouri Botanical Garden
1984
New Jersey Pine Barrens Collections
New Jersey
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsPeter Del Tredici and John H. Alexander
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsRobert G. Nicholson
1982
Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsStephen Spongberg, David Boufford
1980
USSR Expedition
Russia
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsRichard E. Weaver
Other ParticipantsRobert Hebb, Frederick Seaman
Other InstitutionsNew York Botanical Garden
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsSteven A. Spongberg
Other ParticipantsBruce Bartholomew1, David E. Boufford2, Chang Ao-Lo3, Cheng Zhong3, Ted R. Dudley4, He Shan-An5, Jin Yi-Xin3, Li Qing-Yee3, James L. Luteyn6, Sun Siang-Chung3, Tang Yan-Cheng7, Wan Jiz-Xiang 3, and Ying Tsun-Shen7
Other Institutions1University of California, Berkeley; 2Carnegie Museum of Natural History (later Harvard University); 3Kunming Institute of Botany; 3Wuhan Institute of Botany; 4U.S. National Arboretum; 5Jiangsu Institute of Botany, Nanjing; 6New York Botanical Garden; and 7Institute of Botany, Beijing.
1979
Expedition to North Carolina
North Carolina
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsRichard Weaver and James Nickerson
1979
Western States Expedition
California
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsRobert G. Nicholson
1979
Missouri and Illinois Collections
Illinois, Missouri
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsJohn (Jack) Alexander and Gary Koller
1978
Pacific Northwest Expedition
British Columbia
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsRobert G. Nicholson
1977
Japan, South Korea
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsSteven A. Spongberg and Richard E. Weaver
Other ParticipantsCarl Ferris Miller
Other InstitutionsChollipo Arboretum

1928-1976

1968
Expedition to Venezuela
Venezuela
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsGordon Parker DeWolf
1960 – 1980
Exploration for the Flora of the Lesser Antilles
Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, US Virgin Islands
Event TypeCampaign
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsRichard A. Howard
1956 – 1957
Indonesia, Papua New Guinea
Event TypeNon-Arnold Arboretum Expedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsLeonard John Brass
1953
Indonesia, Papua New Guinea
Event TypeNon-Arnold Arboretum Expedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsLeonard John Brass
1948
Archbold Cape York Expedition
Australia
Event TypeContract
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsLeonard John Brass
Event TypeContract
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Other ParticipantsChing-Tsan Hwa1 and H.H. Hu2
Other Institutions1National Central University, 2Fan Memorial Institute of Biology
1947
Collections for the Plants of Fiji
Fiji
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Other ParticipantsAlbert Charles Smith1
Other Institutions1National Museum of Natural History, John Simion Guggenhiem Memorial Foundation (funding), Penrose Fund of the American Philosophical Society (funding), and Bache Fund of the National Academy of Sciences (funding)
1944 – 1956
Campaign in Panama and Isla San Jose
Panama
Event TypeCampaign
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsIvan M. Johnston
1943 – 1944
Alaska, British Columbia
Event TypeCampaign
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsHugh M. Raup
1941
Collections in Mexico
Mexico
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsIvan M. Johnston
Other InstitutionsCarnegie Institute
1940 – 1941
Contract Collections for the Plants of Mexico
Mexico
Event TypeContract
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Other ParticipantsG. Martinez-Calderon
1940 – 1941
Expedition to Central America
Guatemala, Nicaragua
Event TypeContract
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Other ParticipantsGrant Verne
1939
Expedition to Northwest Canada
British Columbia
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsHugh M. Raup
1938
Expedition to Mexico
Mexico
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Other ParticipantsIvan M. Johnston
1938 – 1939
Collections for the Plants of Yunnan Province, China
China
Event TypeContract
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Other ParticipantsTe-tsun Yü
Other InstitutionsFan Memorial Institute of Biology
1938
Collections for the Flora of Panama
Panama
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsRobert Everard Woodson Jr.
1938 – 1939
Third Archbold Expedition to New Guinea
Indonesia, Papua New Guinea
Event TypeNon-Arnold Arboretum Expedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Other ParticipantsLeonard John Brass
Other InstitutionsLeonard John Brass
1937 – 1938
Terry-Holden Expedition
Guyana
Event TypeNon-Arnold Arboretum Expedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Other ParticipantsAlbert Charles Smith1
Other Institutions1American Museum of Natural History, New York Botanical Garden, and Yale School of Forestry
1936 – 1937
Second Archbold Expedition to New Guinea
Indonesia, Papua New Guinea
Event TypeNon-Arnold Arboretum Expedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Other ParticipantsLeonard John Brass
1934 – 1935
Collections for the Plants of Mexico
Mexico
Event TypeContract
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Other ParticipantsCornelius Herman Mueller1 and Mary Elisabeth Mueller
Other Institutions1University of Texas
1934
Expedition to the Balkan Peninsula
Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsEdgar S. Anderson
Other InstitutionsUnited States Department of Agriculture
1934
Contract Collections in Liberia
Liberia
Event TypeContract
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Other ParticipantsJulius Max Dinklage
1934 – 1935
Collections for the Plants of Guatemala
Guatemala
Event TypeContract
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Other ParticipantsAlexander Frank Skutch
1933 – 1934
First Archbold Expedition to New Guinea
Indonesia, Papua New Guinea
Event TypeNon-Arnold Arboretum Expedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Other ParticipantsLeonard John Brass
1932 – 1934
Collections for the Flora of Honduras
Honduras
Event TypeContract
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Other ParticipantsJames B. Edwards
1932 – 1933
Expedition to Northeast British Columbia and Alberta
Alberta, British Columbia
Event TypeCampaign
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsHugh M. Raup
Other ParticipantsAbbe C. Ernst
1932 – 1933
Collections for the Flora of the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Event TypeContract
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsLeonard John Brass
1928 – 1936
Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma
Event TypeCampaign
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsSusan D. McKelvey
Other ParticipantsAlice Eastwood and Oscar E. Hamilton
1928 – 1932
Collections for the Flora of the Solomon Islands, Madagascar, and Vanuatu
Australia, Madagascar, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu
Event TypeContract
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Other ParticipantsFrank S. Kajewski

1874-1927

1927 – 1932
Campaign in Cuba
Cuba
Event TypeCampaign
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsJohn George Jack and Alfred J. Rehder
1926
Contract Collections in the Balkan Peninsula
Bulgaria
Event TypeContract
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Other ParticipantsJohn Mattfeld
1926 – 1927
Expedition of the Harvard Institute of Tropical Biology and Medicine
Kenya, Liberia
Event TypeContract
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Other ParticipantsDavid H. Linder1
Other Institutions1Harvard Institute of Tropical Biology and Medicine
1922
Expedition to New England
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsJohn George Jack and Susan Delano McKelvey
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsJohn George Jack and Susan Delano McKelvey
1917 – 1919
Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsErnest H. Wilson
Other ParticipantsTakenoshin Nakai, Ryozo Kanehira
1914 – 1915
Japan
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsErnest H. Wilson
1913 – 1920
Contracted Collections for the Flora of the Southeastern United States
Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Republic of Georgia, South Carolina
Event TypeContract
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsThomas G. Harbison
1910 – 1911
Expedition to China
China
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsErnest H. Wilson
1909 – 1912
Expedition to Northern China
China
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsWilliam M. Purdom
Other InstitutionsVeitch Nurseries (funding and recipient of germplasm)
1907 – 1909
China
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsErnest H. Wilson
1905
China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsJohn George Jack
1905 – 1906
Expedition to Central and South America
Chile, Ecuador, Panama, Peru
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsCharles S. Sargent
1905 – 1918
China, Korea, Russia
Event TypeCampaign
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsFrank Nicholas Meyer, Johannis J.C. de Leuw (assistant), Chow-hai Ting (interpreter)
Other InstitutionsUnited States Department of Agriculture
1904
Expedition to the Western United States and Canada
Alberta, California
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsJohn George Jack and Alfred J. Rehder
1903
Journey Round The World
China, England, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Ukraine
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsCharles S. Sargent
Other ParticipantsJohn Muir and R. Sargent
1901 – 1947
United States
Event TypeCampaign
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsErnest Jesse Palmer
Other InstitutionsMissouri Botanical Garden
1899
Journey of May
Republic of Georgia
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsCharles S. Sargent
Other ParticipantsWilliam M. Canby
1898
Journey to Florida
Florida
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsCharles S. Sargent
1898
Survey of Pikes Peak, Plum Creek, and South Platte Forest Reserves
California, Oregon, Wyoming
Event TypeNon-Arnold Arboretum Expedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsJohn George Jack
Other InstitutionsUnited States Department of Interior (funding)
1898
Journey to Alabama
Alabama
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsCharles S. Sargent
1897
Expedition to Alaska and Canadian Rockies for the Silva of North America
Alaska, British Columbia, California
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum Participants[Herbarium]
Other ParticipantsJohn Muir and William M. Canby
1896
Collections from the U.S. Forestry Commission
California, Oregon, Wyoming
Event TypeNon-Arnold Arboretum Expedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsCharles S. Sargent
Other ParticipantsJohn Muir, William M. Canby, and Gifford Pinchot
1892
Japan
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsCharles S. Sargent
Other ParticipantsPhilip Codman, James Veitch, and Gifford Pinchot
1887
Journey to Texas and Mexico
Mexico, Texas
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsCharles S. Sargent
1886
Expedition to the Carolinas
North Carolina, South Carolina
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsCharles S. Sargent and Charles E. Faxon
1886 – 1887
Journey to Alabama, Florida, and Louisiana
Alabama, Florida, Louisiana
Event TypeCampaign
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsCharles S. Sargent and Charles E. Faxon
Other InstitutionsUnited States Lighthouse Board (funding)
1885
Journey to the West Indies
Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Martinique, Saint Kitts and Nevis
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsCharles S. Sargent and Charles E. Faxon
1885
Expedition to North Carolina
North Carolina
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeHerbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsCharles S. Sargent
1883 – 1884
Collections from the Northern Transcontinental Survey
California, Montana, Oregon, Washington
Event TypeNon-Arnold Arboretum Expedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsCharles S. Sargent
Other ParticipantsTownshend S. Brandegee, H.C. Putnam, Andrew Roberson, and Raphael Pumpelly
1880
Collections from the Forests of North America Survey
Arizona, British Columbia, California, Florida, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oregon, Republic of Georgia, South Dakota, Utah
Event TypeNon-Arnold Arboretum Expedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsCharles S. Sargent
Other ParticipantsGeorge Engelmann, Francis Skinner, Charles C. Parry, Cyrus G. Pringle, Robert Douglas, and Sereno Watson
Other InstitutionsUnited States Department of Interior
1879
Expedition to North Carolina for Shortia galacifolia (Oconee bells)
North Carolina
Event TypeExpedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Arnold Arboretum ParticipantsCharles S. Sargent
Other ParticipantsAsa Gray1, William M. Canby, and John H. Redfield
Other Institutions1Harvard University
1877
Hayden’s Survey of the U.S. Territories
California, Nevada, Utah
Event TypeNon-Arnold Arboretum Expedition
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Other ParticipantsAsa Gray1, Joseph Dalton Hooker2, Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden3
Other Institutions1Harvard University, 2Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, 3United States National Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories, 1871-1877
1876 – 1877
Japan
Event TypeContract
Collection TypeGermplasm, Herbarium Specimens
Other ParticipantsWilliam S. Clark
Other InstitutionsSapporo Agricultural College

Featured Expedition

Ernest Wilson (second from left) and a group of plant collectors in a grove of Korean maples (Acer pseudosieboldianum) on Ulleungdo (Ooryong-too or Dagelet) Island, South Korea, June 1917.
Ernest Wilson (second from left) and a group of plant collectors in a grove of Korean maples (Acer pseudosieboldianum) on Ulleungdo (Oo-ryong-too or Dagelet) Island, South Korea, June 1917.Archives of the Arnold Arboretum.