Enjoy Flowers Across the Garden State at These 14 NJ Arboretums & Botanical Gardens
They don’t call it the Garden State for nothing! If you’re looking for Spring flowers this season, be sure to stop by one of these incredible arboretums scattered across New Jersey. (Not to be confused with public gardens which will appear in a different post).
14 NJ Arboretums & Botanical Gardens:
North Jersey:
The Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Morristown
The George Griswold Frelinghuysen Arboretum is an arboretum located at 353 East Hanover Avenue, Morris Township, New Jersey. It is open daily without charge. It is also the headquarters of the Morris County Parks Commission. Their mission is to promote public awareness of horticulture, cultural landscapes, and the natural world through stewardship, sponsorship of projects, and educational opportunities; and to further development of horticulture and research facilities at Morris County Park Commission’s horticultural sites.
353 E Hanover Ave, Morristown, NJ
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NJ Botanical Garden at Skylands, Ringwood
The New Jersey State Botanical Garden at Skylands appears on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places. In 1966 the entire estate was bought by the State of New Jersey to form a State Botanical Garden whose settings include a Lilac Garden, Magnolia Walk, the Wild Flower Garden, the Crab Apple Vista, an allée of 166 trees extending almost a half-mile, and the Perennial Garden. The entire section now comprises slightly over 4,000 acres of parkland.
Morris Road, Ringwood, NJ
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Cora Hartshorn Arboretum & Bird Sanctuary, Short Hills
The Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary (CHA) is a non-profit organization located in Short Hills, New Jersey. The origin of the CHA goes back to a gift of land that Stewart Hartshorn made to his daughter, Cora L. Hartshorn, in 1923. Cora developed the area as a place where wild things could grow without harm and where people could come to enjoy them. The arboretum features a wide variety of native wildflowers and is also home to multiple species of ferns and trees. Cora Hartshorn also offers a natural amphitheater created by glaciers. Their goal is to promote an understanding of the relationship between people and the environment through programs that integrate arts, science, and the humanities with educational opportunities from school field trips, scout programs, family programs, adult workshops, summer camp, and more.
324 Forest Drive South, Short Hills, NJ
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Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Summit
Reeves-Reed Arboretum engages, educates and enriches its visitors so that they become better stewards of nature and the environment. This mission is achieved through the care and utilization of historic estate and gardens. The site covers 13 acres of landscaped lawns, gardens, and woodlands. They host many events including children’s educational programs.
165 Hobart Ave, Summit, NJ
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Willowwood Arboretum, Far Hills
Since 1980 under the stewardship and management of the Morris County Park Commission, the Willowwood Foundation, and the support and hard work of countless donors and volunteers have made it possible for the public to enjoy this beautiful green space of gardens and meadows. Willowwood, 130 acres of rolling farmland, has about 2,100 kinds of native and exotic plants, many of them rare. In addition to the formal gardens near the residence and undisturbed forest, historic collections include oak, maple, willow, magnolia, lilac, cherry, fir, pine, a superb specimen of Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia) now more than 98’ tall, masses of ferns and handsome stands of field and forest wildflowers.
300 Longview Rd, Far Hills, NJ
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Laurelwood Arboretum, Wayne
Laurelwood Arboretum is a 30-acre botanically diverse property located in Wayne Township. Laurelwood features woodland trails and gardens, wildlife, two ponds, streams, and hundreds of varieties of rhododendrons, azaleas and other unusual species of plants and trees. Gravel paths wind and connect through the arboretum, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers, hikers, runners, birdwatchers, artists, and photographers. Once a commercial nursery, Laurelwood Arboretum is now maintained as a public park through a partnership between the Township of Wayne and the non-profit organization Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum, Inc.
725 Pines Lake Drive West, Wayne, NJ
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The Arboretum at Liberty Hall, Union
The Arboretum at Liberty Hall is home to some of the state’s most historically significant trees, including a horse chestnut planted in 1770 by the daughter of New Jersey’s first elected governor and Liberty Hall’s first resident, William Livingston. Bartlett and Seckel pear trees on the property also date from the 18th century. Liberty Hall’s storied history began in 1760, when Livingston, who would be elected governor in 1776, purchased a large tract of land in Elizabethtown to take up farming and embrace country living. Livingston’s descendants, the Kean family, lived on the property until 1995.
1003 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ
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The Thielke Arboretum, Glen Rock
The Thielke Arboretum in Glen Rock is a beautiful park, located right next to the Glen Rock Pool and athletic fields on Doremus Avenue. An Arboretum is, literally, a “Garden of Trees”, where hundreds of Trees, Shrubs, Flowers, birds & other wildlife live. This nature center is an excellent place for a field trip or an easy nature walk.
460 Doremus Ave, Glen Rock, NJ
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Wagner Farm Arboretum, Warren
The Wagner Farm Arboretum Foundation is a non-profit fund raising organization supporting a suburban conservancy and learning center on the former Wagner Farm. The arboretum is dedicated to the environmental and horticultural education of children and adults through the collection, study and display of trees, shrubs, flowers and other plant life in a beautiful, natural setting to encourage cultivation and conservation of plant life in ways that promote community involvement and increased environmental awareness
197 Mountain Avenue, Warren , NJ
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Central Jersey:
David C. Shaw Arboretum, Holmdel
The David C. Shaw Arboretum at Holmdel Park was established in the fall of 1963. Its 22 acres contain hundreds of species, cultivars, and varieties of ornamental trees and shrubs. The Arboretum is an educational and horticultural display devoted to the culture and study of many kinds of trees, shrubs, and other woody plants that grow in Monmouth County. The goal is to educate homeowners about the many excellent varieties and cultivars of woody plants that can be used in their own landscapes. The Arboretum is named for David C. Shaw who served as Monmouth County Shade Tree Commission superintendent from 1963 to 2002. The installation of the Arboretum was one of Mr. Shaw’s first projects.
Holmdel Park, Pond Walk, Holmdel, NJ
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The Arboretum of Colonial Park, Somerset
The Arboretum of Colonial Park collects, conserves and cares for trees and shrubs, displaying them in a conscientious manner that promotes education, inspiration, and enjoyment. We do this with careful consideration for a beneficial impact on the plants, the environment, park patrons, and employees. It is our mission to protect and build upon our existing collection by nurturing and growing trees in ways that enhance our role as a public park. We promote an understanding of the relationship between plants, people, and place through display and through programs that integrate science and culture. The 5 1/2-acre Arboretum is located in the western section of Colonial Park in Colonial park Gardens and is comprised of over 900 specimens of trees and shrubs.
Colonial Park (Lot A & F), 156 Mettlers Road, Somerset, NJ
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Georgian County University Arboretum, Lakewood
The arboretum, established in 1989, is named after Sister Mary Grace Burns and comprises the landscaped part of the campus (approx. 100 acres). The collection includes over 2,200 woody plants from over 190 species, representing most of the native species of the New Jersey Pine Barrens (New Jersey Pinelands) as well as a large number of nonnative plant species. They have several species listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, and several trees that are the largest of their kind in Ocean County. Small Clethra alnifolia, holly, and magnolia collections are located between the Italian Gardens and Formal Garden. The four historic gardens — Italian, Formal, Sunken, and Japanese — are known for their overall themed designs, elaborate and ornate brickwork and marble, and the integration of historic (often centuries-old) statuary, sculptures, fountains (most of which are not functional), a Japanese teahouse, and woody plants. Many objects were brought over from Europe and purchased by the Gould family.
Georgian Court University, Lakewood NJ
South Jersey:
Linwood Arboretum, Linwood
Open 24/7, the Linwood Arbortem is known as the “smallest arboretum in the World” which first opened in 2009. Nationally recognized, the Linwood Arboretum attracts members and friends from around the region. The walk-through of the arboretum included stops at trees dedicated along the way as well as plans that include expansion along the bike path and the creation of a linear garden with beautiful trees and plants for the community to enjoy. It has become a meeting place in the city and is home to the annual holiday tree lighting ceremony, complete with carriage rides and visits with Santa.
1410 Wabash Ave, Linwood, NJ
Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve, Medford
The Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve of Medford Leas is a unique blend of accessible public gardens, collections, and preserved natural areas set amidst private residential space. With campuses in Medford and Lumberton, NJ, spanning more than 200 acres, the Arboretum offers visitors a diverse horticultural array of designed gardens, landscaped grounds, meadows, natural woodlands and wetlands, and one of the most extensive plant collections — including natives — in all of southern New Jersey.
One Medford Leas Way, Medford, NJ
