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“The
Arboretum at Penn State
. . . an outreach, teaching, and research facility dedicated
to preserving the beauty and ecological functions of vegetated
landscapes in an urbanizing society.”
A view
of the bulb display on a rainy spring day (2011)
Welcome
The H.O.
Smith Botanic Gardens in the Arboretum are adjacent to the
University
Park campus near the intersection of Park Avenue and Bigler
Road. The entrance to the parking lot is on Bigler Road, facing
the parking lot for the Lewis Katz Building which houses the
Dickinson School of Law. Phase
I, which
was constructed in 2009 on a tract of approximately 35 acres,
contains over 17,000 individual plants representing over 700
species.
The gardens are open daily from
dawn until dusk, and there currently is no fee for admission.
Please observe our garden
regulations and photography
policy as you enjoy the gardens.
Next Development
Phase: Children's Garden
The conceptual design for the Children's
Garden was completed in 2010. On
January 9, 2012, the University announced
that a gift from Edward R. and Helen S. Hintz will fund construction
of this facility, and a gift from Charles H. 'Skip' Smith will
create an endowment to maintain the garden and develop its educational
programs. Endowment support for children's education will also
be provided by a previously announced gift from Marcia Day.
Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
in the Hosler Oak (January 4, 2012)
To see a panoramic view
of the gardens from the roof of the Forest Resources Building
across Park Avenue, please visit our Webcam
page.
I invite you to read about
all
of the elements in the master plan that will eventually
fill the landscape.
Another view of the spring bulb display
Our
planning
pages contain information about projects or endeavors elsewhere
in the Arboretum:
- Air
Quality Learning and Demonstration Center - Outdoor teaching facility about
monitoring air pollution in "Happy Valley"
- Arboretum
Ecological Restoration Group - Volunteers who are trained to recognize and
remove invasive, nonnative plants to restore natural areas in the Arboretum
- Bellefonte
Central Rail Trail - Crushed limestone trail (approximately one mile) that
officially opened in 2006 and is currently being extended another 3/10 of a mile
- Hosler
Oak - First official tree planted in the Arboretum to honor meteorologist
Charles L. Hosler
- Hybrid
Chestnut Seed Orchard - A cooperative initiative between Penn State and The
American Chestnut Foundation dedicated to developing a blight-resistant chestnut
to re-introduce this species to American forests
I hope that you return regularly to
find out the latest news, and ncourage others to visit us, as
well! You may share suggestions or comments about the site by
e-mailing me or Kate
Reeder.
Kim C. Steiner,
Director
The Arboretum at Penn State
Northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
is a mimic, mastering dozens of bird songs and sounds ranging
from a barking dog to a police siren. They are frequently encountered
along the Arboretum's rail trail in Big Hollow. (Source: Nick
Kerlin)
Frequently asked Questions
The plant illustrated in the banner at the top of this Web site's pages,
Panex quiquefolius L. (ginseng) is an herb that bears greenish flowers
in May and red fruit from September to October. Although it was once encountered
frequently in Pennsylvania's woodlands, its abundance has declined greatly due
to excessive collecting. Illustration: Rae Dickson Chambers. | 
