Connecticut College Arboretum

The Connecticut College Arboretum provides a welcome connection with the natural world, offering opportunities for teaching, research, conservation, public education and recreation. Established in 1931 with a mission to grow plants native to Connecticut, the Arboretum is open to the public every day of the year from sunrise to sunset.

The Arboretum's diverse 750 acres include the landscaped grounds of the College campus as well as the surrounding plant collections, natural areas and managed landscapes. These resources all support the College's mission of preparing the next generation of citizen-leaders, whose responsibilities will include crafting a sustainable relationship with the natural world. Our institution distinguishes itself by a long-standing commitment to conservation and supporting research and teaching in ecological and environmental studies. The Arboretum provides an outstanding model of an ethically and environmentally sound community.

The College has three major plant collections: the Campus Landscape, with 120 acres of trees and shrubs from around the world; the Native Plant Collection, 30 acres of woody plants and wildflowers indigenous to eastern North America; and the three-acre Caroline Black Garden, with a diversity of woody plants, many quite mature, in a garden setting. Professional curatorial techniques, such as mapping, inventories, labeling and computer databases, are used to keep track of the thousands of specimens now part of the Arboretum Collections. Labeled plants, guided tours, workshops and publications are part of the collection interpretation program.

The Arboretum center for education and research is located at 33 Gallows Lane. Visitor parking, printed maps, restrooms and drinking fountain are allavailable here.