Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Address

Phone

Run by

The University of Minnesota

Date Established

Date Established
1958

Designer

Various sections and/or gardens by various landscape architects and/or designers

Size

1200 Acres

Cost

Admission fees, online ticket reservations required 

Peak Season

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Peak season (notes)

All seasons,  open year-round

Region

Metro

Garden Type

All American Selections Display Garden
Arboretum
Glass House and Conservatory
Japanese Garden
Rose Garden

Extras

  • Free parking on grounds 
  • Restrooms 
  • Food available in cafe during open hours
  • Picnicking 
  • XC Skiing 
  • Hiking 
  • Accessibility in several areas 
  • Bird watching 
  • Library – in-house reference 
  • Tours -walking, tram or bus 
  • Weddings and events can be scheduled in the buildings and gardens
  • Classes are offered

Comments

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is the largest, most diverse and complete horticultural site in Minnesota with an almost 100 year history. The earliest established portion of the Arboretum, the Horticultural Research Center, begun in 1907, has developed many cold hardy crops including the Honeycrisp apple and ornamentals like the Northern Lights series of azaleas. The Arboretum itself began in 1958 with an initial 160 acres. It currently encompasses 1200 acres which protects its surrounding watershed. The Arboretum’s grounds hold many specific collections of plants including iris, hostas, wildflowers, dahlias, clematis, grasses, and cultivated and hardy shrub roses. There are many special focus areas such as the home demonstration gardens, perennial and annual gardens, a rock garden and a Japanese garden all located near the main visitor buildings and parking lots. Attached to the Snyder Building is a glasshouse conservatory containing plants not hardy in Minnesota’s climate. The public Andersen Horticultural Library, a non-lending horticultural library part of the University of Minnesota, is also in the Snyder Building. On the grounds are examples of restored prairie and wetlands. There is also a sensory garden for therapeutic horticulture. The Arboretum is the ideal place to compare and contrast various woody species when developing a garden or landscape plan. The Arboretum hosts special seasonal events including maple sugaring. There is a 3-Mile Drive through the Arboretum that takes visitors past many of the collections. There is a guided tram tour that follows this route as well.
   The Farm at the Arb and the Bee Center are additional newer attractions that can be accessed from Pete Moe Drive along the 3-Mile Drive. 

Garden photos
Main building
garden path with trees and plants
garden path with trees and plants
main building with garden beds