In a living collection comprising thousands of distinctive plants from around the world, bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla) makes quite a big impression. Living up to its common and scientific names (“macrophylla” literally means “big leaf” in Latin), bigleaf magnolia bears the largest simple leaf (up to 30 inches long) and flowers (up to a foot […]
As a partner in the educational mission of Harvard University, the Arboretum leverages its resources to support undergraduate education. Arboretum-based faculty and researchers, state-of-the-art laboratories, and the living collections provide field experiences for diverse Harvard classes ranging from the biology of plants and urban ecology to landscape design. A summer short course connects students with […]
April 26 is the birthday of Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture. In 1877, he partnered with Arboretum Founding Director Charles Sprague Sargent to design the Arnold Arboretum, two decades after his landmark design for New York’s Central Park and one year before he began work on Boston’s Emerald Necklace. The Arboretum’s […]
Each spring the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University offers a research fellowship and a number of awards to support independent research projects submitted by students, post-doctoral researchers, and biological and horticultural science professionals. Stemming from the Arboretum’s mission to support and facilitate scientific inquiry and knowledge sharing about the plant kingdom, these opportunities enable researchers […]
As a center for plant science, the Arnold Arboretum contributes to the study of our changing planet. At Weld Hill, state-of-the-art laboratories and tools enable researchers to investigate how plants will respond to changes like higher concentrations of carbon in the atmosphere. An ongoing project with Boston University collects data on nitrogen and other atmospheric […]
From the original Frederick Law Olmsted paper map imagining “Harvard’s Arboretum” to advanced satellite navigation systems that track our landscape on your desktop or mobile device, mapping is fundamental to documenting our 281-acre landscape and plant collections. Historical maps highlight our legacy of plant exploration and depict the development of the Arboretum, including a grid […]
The Arboretum relies on public support to pursue its mission, and volunteers play an essential role in our outreach. Since our centennial in 1972, volunteer docents have trained to lead the majority of free guided tours in the Arboretum landscape, and the more recent arrival of Arboretum Interpreters has further enhanced visitor interaction. Our Field […]
As a premier botanical institution and partner in the educational mission of Harvard University, the Arnold Arboretum offers horticultural training programs which go beyond teaching technical skills—they open pathways into the diverse work of public gardens and provide an exceptional foundation for building careers in plant-related fields. Through hands-on experience caring for our Living Collections, […]
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