Morris Arboretum
A 92-acre public garden and arboretum in Philadelphia with global plant collections
Morris Arboretum is a public garden and arboretum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, managed by the University of Pennsylvania. Spread over 92 acres, it features more than 11,000 labelled plants from North America, Asia, and Europe, with notable collections of azaleas, magnolias, maples, and rare trees. Visitors find formal gardens, winding paths, water features, and unique structures like a Victorian fernery and Japanes
- Over 11,000 labelled plants from North America, Asia, and Europe
- Victorian fernery with more than 500 fern varieties
- Japanese Hill and Water Garden in Tsukiyama-niwa style
- Home to rare trees like dawn redwood and Japanese maple
- Official arboretum of Pennsylvania since 1933
What is Morris Arboretum?
Morris Arboretum covers 92 acres in northwest Philadelphia and includes a wide variety of gardens, paths, and natural landscapes. Visitors encounter labelled trees and shrubs from temperate regions across the world, formal rose gardens, a swan pond, a sculpture garden, and a unique Victorian fernery. The grounds are landscaped in the English park style, with Japanese influences visible in several garden areas. Notable features include winding paths, water gardens, rockeries, and a garden railway.
The history of Morris Arboretum
The arboretum began as the private estate of John and Lydia Morris, who started landscaping the site in 1887. John Morris collected plants from around the world, including specimens from China gathered by E. H. Wilson in the early 1900s. After Lydia Morris died in 1932, the estate became a public arboretum in 1933. The grounds reflect both English and Japanese garden traditions, and many original plantings remain today.
What there is to see
The arboretum is organized into themed areas, such as the English Park, Japanese Hill and Water Garden, and Rose Garden. The Victorian fernery, built in 1899, houses a collection of ferns and club mosses arranged among rock formations and water features. Other highlights include a garden railway, rock wall garden, and oak-lined allee. The arboretum maintains over 11,000 labelled plants, with significant collections of azaleas, magnolias, maples, and conifers.
When to go
Morris Arboretum is open to the public daily except major holidays. Visitors can walk through gardens, attend educational programs, and view seasonal displays. The arboretum hosts tours and special exhibits, and its grounds are used for recreation, learning, and plant conservation. The Springfield Mill, owned by the arboretum, is open for tours by request.
Parts and collections
The arboretum features notable specimens such as dawn redwoods, Japanese maples, and rare trees like Abies cephalonica and Metasequoia glyptostroboides. The English Park area is planted with species collected in China, while the Japanese gardens blend traditional Japanese and English styles. The fernery contains over 500 fern varieties and 47 types of club moss.
Why Morris Arboretum matters
Morris Arboretum is the official arboretum of Pennsylvania and is managed by the University of Pennsylvania. Its landscape design and plant collections reflect both European and Asian influences. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Compton and Bloomfield, with architectural elements in Classical and Late Gothic Revival styles.
Questions people ask about Morris Arboretum
Where is Morris Arboretum located?
Morris Arboretum is located at 100 East Northwestern Avenue in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
What can visitors see at the arboretum?
Visitors can explore formal gardens, a Victorian fernery, Japanese gardens, a swan pond, a garden railway, and collections of rare trees and shrubs from around the world.
When did Morris Arboretum become a public garden?
The estate became a public arboretum in 1933, following the death of Lydia Morris.
What are some notable plant collections at Morris Arboretum?
The arboretum is known for its collections of azaleas, magnolias, maples, conifers, hollies, roses, and witch-hazels.
Is Morris Arboretum open year-round?
Morris Arboretum is open daily except for major holidays, allowing visits in all seasons.
Good reading and sources
- Morris Arboretum on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Morris Arboretum", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Opening times, prices and bloom dates change: check with the place before you travel. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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