The University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens (300 acres, 121

hectare The hectare (; SI symbol: ha) is a non-SI metric unit of area equal to a square with 100- metre sides (1 hm2), or 10,000 m2, and is primarily used in the measurement of land. There are 100 hectares in one square kilometre. An acre is ...

s) includes

botanical garden A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens, an ...

s, natural areas with trails, and several research-quality habitats and is part of the organization Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum. The conservatory is popular year round. The public entrance is at 1800 North Dixboro Road in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The grounds are open every day, but trails are not maintained in the winter. The conservatory, garden store, and lobby are open 7 days a week: Mon., Tues., and Thurs. - Sun., 10:00 am–4:30 pm; Wednesdays 10 am-8 pm. The building complex is only closed on three holidays a year. The institution's main web site with updated information i
Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum
The botanical gardens includes outdoor display gardens, the Gaffield Children's Garden, a 10,000+ square-foot conservatory, and natural areas with walking trails. The gardens are named after former Michigan

regent A regent (from Latin : ruling, governing) is a person appointed to govern a state '' pro tempore'' (Latin: 'for the time being') because the monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge the powers and duties of the monarchy ...

Frederick C. Matthaei Sr. and his wife Mildred, who donated of land. Matthaei Botanical Gardens offers activities and resources for all visitors, from families to gardening enthusiasts to hikers, birders, scientists, volunteers, and to University of Michigan faculty, staff, and students. The gardens is dedicated to environmental stewardship and to enriching the understanding and enjoyment of the natural world through research, creative works, public outreach, and educational programs and workshops for adults and children.

Mission

Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum shared thei
new strategic plan
on September 1, 2022. This plan included a new Mission Statement: Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum is a transformative force for social and ecological resilience through the waters and lands we steward. We turn this commitment into action by: *Positioning humans as active participants within the natural world and compelling the university community and our publics to negotiate the full complexity that entails *Advancing partnerships, programs, user experience, and all that we steward to catalyze equity and justice in a radically changing world *Emerging as University of Michigan’s premier partner for research, teaching, and public impact in sustainability, climate-forward practices, and biocultural diversity *Promoting healthier communities, cultures, and ecosystems through active care and cultivation of the gardens, fields, natural habitats, and dynamic systems that sustain our world

Gardens and hardy collections

The gardens and hardy collections consist of several formal displays and outdoor plantings: *Alexandra Hicks Herb Knot Garden - modern version of a

Tudor period The Tudor period occurred between 1485 and 1603 in England and Wales and includes the Elizabethan period during the reign of Elizabeth I until 1603. The Tudor period coincides with the dynasty of the House of Tudor in England that began wit ...

garden, with hedges of the yew ('' Taxus x media 'hicksii''') and boxwood (''

Buxus ''Buxus'' is a genus of about seventy species in the family Buxaceae. Common names include box or boxwood. The boxes are native to western and southern Europe, southwest, southern and eastern Asia, Africa, Madagascar, northernmost South ...

sempervirens ‘Green Gem’''), as well as lavender (''

Lavandula angustifolia ''Lavandula angustifolia'', formerly ''L. officinalis'', is a flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to the Mediterranean (Spain, France, Italy, Croatia etc.). Its common names include lavender, true lavender and English lavender (though ...

‘Hidcote’''), creeping thyme (''

Thymus serpyllum ''Thymus serpyllum'', known by the common names of Breckland thyme, Breckland wild thyme, wild thyme, creeping thyme, or elfin thyme, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to most of Europe and North Africa. It is ...

''), and winter savory (''

Satureja ''Satureja'' is a genus of aromatic plants of the family Lamiaceae, related to rosemary and thyme. It is native to North Africa, southern and southeastern Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. A few New World species were formerly included ...

montana''). The Herb Knot Garden honors "Sandy" Hicks (1934-1991) for her interest in herb and culinary gardening and healing plants and for her enthusiasm in sharing these interests with others. *Demonstration Prairie - a restored

prairie Prairies are ecosystems considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and a composition of grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the ...

, restoration beginning in 1967, on previously agricultural land. *Gaffield Children's Garden - a place for exploration and fun in a natural setting specially designed from a child's perspective. The garden features several play areas and interactive stations. *Gateway Garden of New World Plants - ornamental plants native to the Americas, including

coreopsis ''Coreopsis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Common names include calliopsis and tickseed, a name shared with various other plants. Description These plants range from in height. The flowers are usually yellow wi ...

cosmos The cosmos (, ) is another name for the Universe. Using the word ''cosmos'' implies viewing the universe as a complex and orderly system or entity. The cosmos, and understandings of the reasons for its existence and significance, are studied in ...

, marigolds, ornamental

pepper Pepper or peppers may refer to: Food and spice * Piperaceae or the pepper family, a large family of flowering plant ** Black pepper * ''Capsicum'' or pepper, a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae ** Bell pepper ** Chili ...

petunia ''Petunia'' is genus of 20 species of flowering plants of South American origin. The popular flower of the same name derived its epithet from the French, which took the word ''petun'', meaning "tobacco," from a Tupi–Guarani language. A tende ...

phlox ''Phlox'' (; Greek φλόξ "flame"; plural "phlox" or "phloxes", Greek φλόγες ''phlóges'') is a genus of 67 species of perennial and annual plants in the family Polemoniaceae. They are found mostly in North America (one in Siberia) in di ...

, sunflowers, tropical

salvia ''Salvia'' () is the largest genus of plants in the sage family Lamiaceae, with nearly 1000 species of shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals. Within the Lamiaceae, ''Salvia'' is part of the tribe Mentheae within the subfamily Nepetoi ...

s, and

verbena ''Verbena'' (), also known as vervain or verveine, is a genus in the family Verbenaceae. It contains about 150 species of annual and perennial herbaceous or semi-woody flowering plants. The majority of the species are native to the Americas a ...

s. *Helen V. Smith Woodland Wildflower Garden - more than 100 native species of

wildflower A wildflower (or wild flower) is a flower that grows in the wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. The term implies that the plant probably is neither a hybrid nor a selected cultivar that is in any way different from the ...

s, woody plants, and

fern A fern (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta ) is a member of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. The polypodiophytes include all living pteridophytes exce ...

s of the southern Great Lakes Region. *Labyrinth - located in a quiet setting, the labyrinth provides the opportunity for walking meditation, contemplation, and tranquility *Marie Azary Rock Garden - a rock garden. *Matteson Farmstead and Historic Barns - the Matteson farmhouse dates to the 1860s. The smaller barn was built circa 1845-1865, while the larger, gambrel-roofed barn is circa 1875-1900. The farmstead and barns are currently closed to the public (August 2011). *Norman Memorial Garden - The Norman Memorial Grove is a popular gathering place near the west entrance to the Sue Reichert Discovery Trail. The Grove has been expanded with new plantings of native oak, maple, hickory, and sassafras. *Perennial Garden - Spring and summer bloom and a popular wedding spot. *Sam Graham Trees - A special collection of major trees native to the state of Michigan. *Transitions - entryway to trails and wetlands. *Urban Pocket Garden - European hornbeam (''

Carpinus Hornbeams are hardwood trees in the flowering plant genus ''Carpinus'' in the birch family Betulaceae. The 30–40 species occur across much of the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Origin of names The common English name ''hornbea ...

betulus''), eastern white pines (''

Pinus A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus ''Pinus'' () of the family Pinaceae. ''Pinus'' is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. The World Flora Online created by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden ...

strobus''), and Kentucky coffeetree (''

Gymnocladus ''Gymnocladus'' ( Neo-Latin, from Greek γυμνὀς, ''gymnos'', naked + κλάδος, ''klados'', branch) is a small genus of leguminous trees. The common name coffeetree is used for this genus. Description ''Gymnocladus'' species are very l ...

dioicus'').

Conservatory

The 10,000+ square-foot conservatory was designed by architect

Alden Dow Alden B. Dow (April 10, 1904 – August 20, 1983) was an American architect based in Midland, Michigan, and known for his contributions to the style of Michigan Modern. During a career that spanned from the 1930s to the 1960s, he designed more than ...

, and completed in 1964. It is believed to be the largest university-operated display greenhouse in the United States. The conservatory contains three distinct areas: *Tropical house - Collections include ''

Ananas ''Ananas'' is a plant genus in the family Bromeliaceae. It is native to South America. The genus contains ''Ananas comosus'', the pineapple. Species The genus ''Ananas'' includes only two species: Gallery File:Pineapple.plantation.jpg, Pinea ...

comosus'', '' Annona muricata'',

bromeliads The Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) are a family of monocot flowering plants of about 80 genera and 3700 known species, native mainly to the tropical Americas, with several species found in the American subtropics and one in tropical west Africa, ...

, ''

Caryota ''Caryota'' is a genus of palm trees. They are often known as fishtail palms because of the shape of their leaves. There are about 13 species native to Asia ( China, India, Indonesia, etc.), northern Australia, and the South Pacific. One of ...

mitis'', '' Cocos nucifera'', '' Coffea arabica'',

cycads Cycads are seed plants that typically have a stout and woody ( ligneous) trunk with a crown of large, hard, stiff, evergreen and (usually) pinnate leaves. The species are dioecious, that is, individual plants of a species are either male o ...

(including a ''

Dioon ''Dioon'' is a genus of cycads in the family Zamiaceae. It is native to Mexico and Central America. Their habitats include tropical forests, pine-oak forest, and dry hillsides, canyons and coastal dunes. Description Dioons are dioecious, pa ...

spinulosum'' given by Smith College in the 1920s), ''

Heliconia ''Heliconia'', derived from the Greek word (), is a genus of flowering plants in the monotypic family Heliconiaceae. Most of the ca 194 known species are native to the tropical Americas, but a few are indigenous to certain islands of the we ...

vellerigera'', ''

Kigelia ''Kigelia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceae. The genus consists of only one species, ''Kigelia africana'', which occurs throughout tropical Africa. The so-called sausage tree grows a poisonous fruit that is up to long, ...

pinnata'', ''

Musa Musa may refer to: Places * Mūša, a river in Lithuania and Latvia * Musa, Azerbaijan, a village in Yardymli Rayon * Musa, Iran, a village in Ilam Province * Musa, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Iran *Musa, Kerman, Iran * Musa, Bukan, West Azerbaija ...

'',

orchids Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...

, ''

Oryza ''Oryza'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. It includes the major food crop rice (species ''Oryza sativa'' and ''Oryza glaberrima''). Members of the genus grow as tall, wetland grasses, growing to tall; the genus includes both annual an ...

sativa'', ''

Piper Piper may refer to: People * Piper (given name) * Piper (surname) Arts and entertainment Fictional characters Comics * Piper (Morlock), in the Marvel Universe * Piper (Mutate), in the Marvel Universe Television * Piper Chapman, lea ...

nigrum'', ''

Rhizophora ''Rhizophora'' is a genus of tropical mangrove trees, sometimes collectively called true mangroves. The most notable species is the red mangrove (''Rhizophora mangle'') but some other species and a few natural hybrids are known. ''Rhizophora'' ...

mangle'', and '' Theobroma cacao''. *Temperate house - representing the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western Europe, Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa ...

region and warm-temperate

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an are ...

. Collections include bonsai displays (more than 40 specimens) and an Oriental

camellia ''Camellia'' (pronounced or ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. They are found in eastern and southern Asia, from the Himalayas east to Japan and Indonesia. There are more than 220 described species, with some controv ...

display, as well as ''

Camellia ''Camellia'' (pronounced or ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. They are found in eastern and southern Asia, from the Himalayas east to Japan and Indonesia. There are more than 220 described species, with some controv ...

sinensis'', '' Ceratonia siliqua'', ''

Cyperus ''Cyperus'' is a large genus of about 700 species of sedges, distributed throughout all continents in both tropical and temperate regions. Description They are annual or perennial plants, mostly aquatic and growing in still or slow-moving ...

papyrus'', ''

Ficus ''Ficus'' ( or ) is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes and hemiepiphytes in the family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few species extendi ...

carica'', ''

Gossypium ''Gossypium'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Gossypieae of the mallow family, Malvaceae, from which cotton is harvested. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Old and New Worlds. There are about 50 ''Gossypium ...

arboreum'', ''

Laurus ''Laurus'' () is a genus of evergreen trees or shrubs belonging to the laurel family, Lauraceae. The genus contains three or more species, including the bay laurel or sweet bay, ''L. nobilis'', widely cultivated as an ornamental plant and a cul ...

nobilis'', ''

Olea ''Olea'' ( ) is a genus of about 40 species in the family Oleaceae, native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the Middle East, southern Europe, Africa, southern Asia, and Australasia. They are evergreen trees and shrubs, with small ...

europaea'', ''

Phoenix Phoenix most often refers to: * Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore * Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States Phoenix may also refer to: Mythology Greek mythological figures * Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...

dactylifera'', ''

Phyllostachys ''Phyllostachys'' () is a genus of Asian bamboo in the grass family. Many of the species are found in central and southern China, with a few species in northern Indochina and in the Himalayas. Some of the species have become naturalized in parts ...

nigra'', and ''

Quercus An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ...

suber''. *Arid house - representing hot deserts of the world. Collections include

cactus A cactus (, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Gree ...

, succulents,

euphorbia ''Euphorbia'' is a very large and diverse genus of flowering plants, commonly called spurge, in the family Euphorbiaceae. "Euphorbia" is sometimes used in ordinary English to collectively refer to all members of Euphorbiaceae (in deference to t ...

, and lithops, as well as ''

Agave ''Agave'' (; ; ) is a genus of monocots native to the hot and arid regions of the Americas and the Caribbean, although some ''Agave'' species are also native to tropical areas of North America, such as Mexico. The genus is primarily known for ...

americana'', '' Aloe marlothii'', '' Bowiea volubilis'', '' Cyphostemma juttae'', and ''

Euphorbia ''Euphorbia'' is a very large and diverse genus of flowering plants, commonly called spurge, in the family Euphorbiaceae. "Euphorbia" is sometimes used in ordinary English to collectively refer to all members of Euphorbiaceae (in deference to t ...

milii''. *Bonsai Collection - three bonsai trees or plants are always on display in the temperate house of the conservatory. There is also a bonsai display garden located outside of the conservatory where more of the bonsai collection is displayed for the public. To see more, go to http://bonsai.mbgna.umich.edu/welcome.htm

Natural areas and trails

The natural areas include mature woodlands, wetlands, several ponds, and a constructed tall-grass prairie, with four nature trails covering 3.2 miles. *Dix Pond Trail - Nature reclaims old pastures, planted woodlots, and long-abandoned gravel pits. *Fleming Creek Trail - Abundant habitat diversity along with smaller wildlife that can be seen and sometimes heard along the way. *Marilyn Bland Prairie - a rich span of wildlife lives in the prairie, old fields, oak openings, and wetlands that are close to the historic Matteson farm and barns. *Sam Graham Trees Trail - Find Michigan's important trees arrayed in wetland to upland woods and into savanna habitats along this trail. *Sue Reichert Discovery Trail - Child-oriented signs and many activities make this a trail for kids of all ages. Discover animal tracks or explore a willow lodge.

Gallery

Image:Matthaei Botanical Gardens Visitor Center.JPG, Visitor center Image:Matthaei Botanical Gardens Willow Pond.JPG, Willow Pond Image:Matthaei Botanical Gardens Gateway Garden of New World Plants.JPG, Gateway Garden of New World Plants Image:Matthaei Botanical Gardens Greenhouse and Spring-Back Gateway.JPG, Greenhouse and Spring-Back Gateway Image:Matthaei Botanical Gardens Herb Knot Garden.JPG, Herb Knot Garden Image:Matthaei Botanical Gardens Gaffield Children's Garden.JPG, Gaffield Children's Garden Image:Matthaei Botanical Gardens Rustic Habitat Trail.JPG, Rustic habitat trail Image:Matthaei Botanical Gardens Wayfinder's Maze.JPG, Wayfinder's Maze Image:Matthaei Botanical Gardens Stony Stream.JPG, Stony stream Image:Matthaei Botanical Gardens Amphitheater.JPG, Amphitheater Image:Matthaei Botanical Gardens Fairy & Troll Knoll.JPG, Fairy & Troll Knoll Image:Matthaei Botanical Gardens Wetland Kiosk.JPG, Wetland kiosk

External links

Video featuring Matthaei Botanical GardensMatthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum
{{Authority control University of Michigan campus

Botanical gardens in Michigan {{Commons cat, Botanical gardens in Michigan Michigan Botanical gardens A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''bot ...

Arboreta in Michigan :{{Seealso, Botanical garden Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by pop ...