OUR PLANTS

The living collections at the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens feature some of the oldest botanical collections in Iowa alongside continually expanding contemporary collections.

The Iowa Arboretum & Gardens is a living museum. Each and every plant is meticulously documented from seed to death with data captured in-between.

Our plants are wild collected, received through exchanges with other botanical gardens, acquired through the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), and purchased from nurseries and garden centers. Each plant that comes to the arboretum is entered into our database and location marked on internal mapping software. This data allows staff to keep a close eye on the health, size, and current or former locations of our plants.

With hundreds of thousands of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials across 160 acres, the arboretum has several strengths including oaks, nut trees, conifers, native plants, and our trial program. The historic arboretum collections are planted by categorical designation. Some are arranged by genera, for example oaks (Quercus spp.) while others by whole categories like conifers, wetland trees, or flowering trees. Today, planting of any plant is based on garden design and function; taking into account relevance, and how plants interact or contribute to any given landscape. Learn more about specific plant collections here.

Plant collections are available to outside researchers, botanists, and horticulturists to utilize for their projects with advance approval by the Material Transfer Agreement form. Please indicate your interest for a collection two business weeks before intended collection date so we can complete this form to have permission granted. The unauthorized collecting of seed, germplasm, or scion from any arboretum plant is strictly prohibited without prior written consent.

The Iowa Arboretum & Gardens does accept the donation of plant material. To inquire about a possible plant donation, fill out our In-Kind Donation form.

In order to better serve our visitors, many of our plants are labeled with individual display labels. These provide genus, species, and cultivar information and an indication of the age of the plant.

Natural Resources Pages

Specific Plant Collections

Our Gardens

Alpine Garden

Dwarf conifers, plants native to high elevations, and plants from arid ecosystems call this garden home.

Butterfly Garden

This garden habitat is a good spot to search for caterpillars or watch butterflies visiting beautiful blooms.

Coffman Viburnum Walk

Showcasing the diversity of hardy viburnums suitable for the Central Iowa climate, honoring Dr. Eugene Coffman.

Dry Creek Bed

This beautiful space helps manage stormwater for our buildings while providing important habitat.

Founder’s Grove

Many of the first trees to be planted at the arboretum, these stunning mature specimens celebrate our founders.

Iowa Breeder Garden

Iowa’s rich history of plant breeding is celebrated in this garden including roses, bearded iris, and daylilies. 

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Iris & Daylily Garden

Over 300 bearded iris and dozens of daylilies fill this space that is an explosion of color during peak bloom.

Nut Tree Grove

Walnuts, hickories, pecans, chestnuts, and hazelnuts feed wildlife, are an edible crop, and can be beautiful.

Palustrine Wetland

This native and original wetland houses turtles, frogs, and birds while also positively impacting surrounding areas.

Prairie Strip

Prairie strips are an ecological way to filter runoff, absorb excess fertilizers, and provide crucial wildlife habitat.

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Stout Silver Award Winner Daylily Garden

The best daylily varieties selected since 1950 by the American Daylily Society are displayed in this garden.

Theresa Schutt Hosta House

Hundreds of hosta varieties and their companions fill this garden on the north side of the Cafferty Building.

Wetland Tree Grove

These trees are tough, able to withstand drought and periods of standing water all while providing shade and habitat.

Natural Resources Pages

Specific Plant Collections

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