Greensboro Arboretum

Greensboro Arboretum401 Ashland Drive

 

This 17-acre site features 14 plant collections, special display gardens and distinct structural features. The extensive variety of plants offers rich educational opportunities for children and adults, landscape designers, and homeowners.

The garden is open year-round. Admission is free.

GARDEN HOURS
May-August 8 am -8 pm
September-October
March-April		 8 am-7 pm
November-February 8 am-5 pm

 

Reserve your 11"x14" William Mangum print of the Greensboro Arboretum.

To make a reservation for group events, weddings, or other special events, call 336-373-5888.

  • R.R. Allen Family Butterfly Garden and Fountain
  • Arboretum Education Building
  • Butterfly Garden Fountain
  • The Landmark Arbor
  • Kaplan Rose Arbor
  • Tanger Family Wedding Gazebo
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Arboretum Map Van Dorn Memorial Woodland ClassroomRight Plant, Right Plant Collection Information Gate City Kiwanis Shade Garden Collection Gate City Kiwanis Club Shade Garden Collection R.R. Allen Family Butterfly Garden & Fountain Patio Area James W. Newlin Holly Garden Pattie S. Newlin Memorial Bouquet Garden Tanger Family Wedding Gazebo Irene H. McIver Vine Collection & Perennial Border Landmark Arbor Greensboro Council of Garden Clubs Winter Garden Collection Green Hill Farm Hosta Garden Dwarf Conifer Collection Restroom Arboretum Classroom Building Small Tree Collection Woodland Trail Small Tree Collection Dr. and Mrs. William R. Findley Memorial Sun Shrub Collection Dr. and Mrs. William R. Findley Memorial Sun Shrub Collection Woodland Trail Kaplan Family Rose Garden & Arbor Hart Chimes Blanche S. Benjamin Overlook Robin B. Ward Meditation Garden & Groundcover Collection Hydrophytic Collection Marzulla Butterfly Bridge Beeson Rhododendron Garden New Garden Landscaping & Nursery Sequence of Bloom Collection Conifer Collection Restroom New Garden Landscaping & Nursery Sequence of Bloom Collection Information Entrance Parking Entrance Ornamental Grasses & Pollinator Meadow Entrance Entrance Parking

P Parking
E Entrance
i Information
1 Arboretum Education Building
1a Dwarf Conifer Collection
2 Green Hill Farm Hosta Collection
3 Greensboro Council of Garden Clubs Winter Garden Collection
3a Tanger Family Wedding Gazebo
4 Patio Area
5 James W. Newlin Holly Collection
6 Irene H. McIver Vine Collection & Perennial Border
6a Arbor
7 Pattie S. Newlin Memorial Bouquet Garden
8 Small Tree Collection
8a Van Dorn Memorial Woodland Classroom
9 Dr. & Mrs. William R. Findley Memorial Sun Shrub Collection

9a Kaplan Family Rose Garden & Arbor
9b Right Plant, Right Place Collection
9c Ornamental Grasses & Pollinator Meadow
10 Gate City Kiwanis Club Shade Garden Collection
10a Woodland Trail
11 Robin B. Ward Meditation Garden & Groundcover Collection
11a Hart Chimes
12 Hydrophytic Collection
12a R.R. Allen Family Butterfly Garden & Fountain
12b Marzulla Butterfly Bridge
13 Beeson Rhododendron Collection
14 Blanche S. Benjamin Overlook
15 Conifer Collection
16 New Garden Landscaping & Nursery Sequence of Bloom Collection
R Restrooms

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Winter Garden

Greensboro Council of Garden Clubs Winter Garden Collection: Plants with interest during the winter months.

Sun Shrub Garden

Dr. & Mrs. William R. Findley Memorial Sun Shrub Collection: Plants which grow well in full sun.

Dwarf Conifer

Dwarf Conifer Collection, adjacent to the Education Building.

Shade Garden

Gate City Kiwanis Club Shade Garden Collection: Plants which grow in varying degrees of shade.

Vine Collection - Landmark Arbor

Irene H. McIver Vine Collection: A variety of climbing plants trained to grow on the Landmark Arbor.

Groundcover

Robin B. Ward Meditation Garden & Groundcover Collection: Low-growing, spreading plants.

Small Tree Collection

Small Tree Collection: A variety of relatively compact trees.

Hydrophytic Collection

Hydrophytic Collection: Plants which tolerate moist soil.

Conifer Collection

Conifer Collection: Cone-bearing plants.

Sequence of Blooms

New Garden Landscaping & Nursery Sequence of Bloom Collection: Plants which blossom at progressive seasons for year-round beauty.

Display Gardens

Hosta Display Garden

The Green Hill Farm Hosta Garden features dozens of varieties of hostas.

Rose Arbor

The Kaplan Family Rose Garden & Arbor, features a variety of climbing roses growing on an arbor which mirrors the Landmark Arbor.

Holly Garden

The James W. Newlin Memorial Holly Garden features a variety of hollies.

Butterfly Garden

The R.R. Allen Family Butterfly Garden & Fountain is formed in the shape of two butterflies - each filled with colorful plants which attract butterflies. The garden's design is especially striking when viewed from the Overlook.

Perennial Border

A four-foot Perennial Border surrounds the Landmark Arbor, and provides spring, summer and fall beauty.

Rhododendron

The Beeson Rhododendron Garden features a number of varieties, blooming from early May to late June.

Woodland Trail

The Woodland Trail is a nature walk winding through an established second growth forest within the Shade Garden Collection.

bouquet garden

The Pattie S. Newlin Memorial Bouquet Garden features plants suited for a cutting garden.

FEATURES

Tanger Family Wedding Gazebo

The Tanger Family Wedding Gazebo, which hosts weddings, small musical ensembles, and special events. For information about weddings at the Greensboro Arboretum, click here.

Elena Marzulla Bridge

The Elena Marzulla Bridge features colorful butterflies and flowers incorporated in its design.

Chimes

The Dr. Lawrence & Alma Louise Hart Chimes -- a stunning, 23-foot tall trio of oversized wind chimes.

Blanche Benjamin Overlook

The Blanche S. Benjamin Overlook provides a panoramic view of the Arboretum. Its design mirrors the Landmark Arbor.

The Greensboro Arboretum began as a joint project of Greensboro Beautiful and the Greensboro Parks & Recreation Department to provide the community with an outstanding collection of plants Irene McIverfor study and enjoyment. In the late 70's, after completing Bicentennial Garden, Greensboro Beautiful was searching for another area to serve the community and attract visitors to Greensboro. The City of Greensboro offered 17 acres within Lindley Park - centrally located and easily accessible from all parts of the city by major thoroughfares. It was also the site of remnants of the Anniversary Garden, a project of the Greensboro Council of Garden Clubs in the 50's. Greensboro Beautiful volunteer and Arboretum visionary, Irene McIver, proposed that special care be given to construct a landscape display garden which would utilize the natural topography of the site, which ranges from steep, almost cliff-like slopes to flat, meadow-like plains. She also suggested that the garden be constructed around existing wooded and open areas, and include collections of woody plants labeled for education, recreation and enjoyment of the public.

Greensboro Beautiful consulted with horticulture Groundbreakingprofessors and NC State University, and contracted with Virginia Tech landscape architect and horticulture professor, Robert McDuffie, for a design and master plan. The plan involved woody ground covers, trees and shrubs to be grouped into labeled collection areas according to habit, family, color, growing conditions, and seasonal interest. Plant species selected were particularly hardy to the Piedmont Region of North Carolina. The plant material in each collection was separated by turf areas and paved walkways to allow close inspection of plants.

With the design in place and construction ready to begin, McIver began soliciting support from the community. Local businesses and nurseries were especially generous with contributions of plants and construction materials. Memorial and honor gifts were received and helped purchase trees and benches for the arboretum. City staff assumed responsibility for site preparation, installation of drainage, irrigation, planting, and maintenance. Construction began in 1986 and was completed in 1991.

In appreciation for her tireless dedication to the realization of the Greensboro Arboretum, Greensboro Beautiful named the Vine Collection in honor of Irene McIver.

The garden was formally opened to the public in 1991, and has proven to be a regional treasure - a living gallery of beauty, a learning laboratory for all ages, and a unique place for a tranquil walk.