UW-Madison Arboretum

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum was founded in 1934 to provide examples of all the major plant communities of Wisconsin. Our mission is the conserve and restore Arboretum lands, advance restoration science, and foster the land ethic. We strive to restore lands and enrich lives. The UW-Madison Arboretum has been a site of significant ecological restoration since its founding. We have also been an important educational site for the UW-Madison and the broader community for decades. Many people know us for our awesome lilac display in May, prairie wildflowers in summer, and fall colors in the maple woods. The UW-Madison Arboretum is a 1280 acre teaching and research facility of the University of Wisconsin with a horticultural collection of trees and shrubs, remnant and restored prairies, savannas, wetlands, and forests. We have a visitor center with a bookstore, we offer tours and classes to the public, and welcome visitors every day of the year. Volunteers participate in restoration, trail maintenance, research, visitor services, and much more. The UW-Madison Arboretum was recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places.