The Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania

Why go

The Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania earns time because it offers a substantial garden visit with enough botanical variety for several distinct loops. Its central thread is mature specimen trees, designed gardens and winding paths across a hilly former estate. The canopy walk raises visitors into the structure of the trees. Formal plantings, meadow edges and water features create strong seasonal contrasts.

What to look for

• The canopy walk raises visitors into the structure of the trees.
• Formal plantings, meadow edges and water features create strong seasonal contrasts.

The full story

The Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania is best understood through mature specimen trees, designed gardens and winding paths across a hilly former estate. The arboretum was formerly the estate of John and Lydia Morris, who purchased and landscaped much of the arboretum's current site starting from the 1880s. Morris was interested in growing plants from around the world, including those collected in China by E. H. Wilson around 1900, and many of today's specimens date to Morris' original plantings. The estate became a public arboretum in 1933. Today the arboretum contains more than 13,000 labelled plants of over 2,500 types, representing the temperate floras of North America, Asia, and Europe, with a primary focus on Asia. Significant collections include native azaleas, conifers, hollies, magnolia species, maples, roses, and witch hazels. The arboretum has identified 17 trees in its collection as outstanding specimens: Abies cephalonica, Abies holophylla, Acer buergerianum, Aesculus flava, Cedrus libani var. atlantica 'Glauca', Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Fagus engleriana, Fagus sylvatica f. pendula, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Pinus bungeana, Platanus x acerifolia, Quercus alba, Quercus × benderi, Tsuga canadensis f. pendula, Ulmus glabra 'Horizontalis', Ulmus parvifolia, and Zelkova serrata. The arboretum is set within a fine, mature landscape, primarily designed in the English park style but with Japanese influences. It includes winding paths and streams, a swan pond, formal rose gardens, and large sweeps of azaleas, rhododendrons, and magnolias.

Useful to know

• Wear shoes for slopes and uneven garden paths.
• Use the map to select a loop; the collection is too extensive for a hurried circuit.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.