The University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens (300
acre
The acre ( ) is a Unit of measurement, unit of land area used in the Imperial units, British imperial and the United States customary units#Area, United States customary systems. It is traditionally defined as the area of one Chain (unit), ch ...
s, 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), that is, square metres (), and is primarily used in the measurement of land. There are 100 hectares in one square kilometre. ...
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. is ...
s, natural areas with trails, and several research-quality habitats and is part of the organization Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum. It was established in 1907.
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
In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...
The gardens and hardy collections consist of several formal displays and outdoor plantings:
*Alexandra Hicks Herb Knot Garden - modern version of a
Tudor period
In England and Wales, the Tudor period occurred between 1485 and 1603, including the Elizabethan era during the reign of Elizabeth I (1558–1603). The Tudor period coincides with the dynasty of the House of Tudor in England, which began with ...
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. It is a low, usually prostrate subshrub formin ...
''), and winter savory (''
Satureja
''Satureja'' is a genus of aromatic plants of the family (biology), family Lamiaceae, related to rosemary and thyme. It is native to Southern Europe, southern and southeastern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Historically, ...
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 - 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 tickseed, other plants.
Description
These plants range from in height. The flowers are usually ye ...
,
cosmos
The cosmos (, ; ) is an alternative name for the universe or its nature or order. Usage of the word ''cosmos'' implies viewing the universe as a complex and orderly system or entity.
The cosmos is studied in cosmologya broad discipline covering ...
petunia
''Petunia'' is a 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 , 'tobacco', from a Tupi–Guarani language. A tender perennial plan ...
sunflower
The common sunflower (''Helianthus annuus'') is a species of large annual forb of the daisy family Asteraceae. The common sunflower is harvested for its edible oily seeds, which are often eaten as a snack food. They are also used in the pr ...
s, tropical
salvia
''Salvia'' () is the largest genus of plants in the sage family Lamiaceae, with just under 1,000 species of shrubs, Herbaceous plant, herbaceous Perennial plant, perennials, and Annual plant, annuals. Within the Lamiaceae, ''Salvia'' is part o ...
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 ...
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, rather than being intentionally seeded or planted. The term implies that the plant is neither a hybrid nor a selected cultivar that is any different from the native plant, eve ...
s, woody plants, and
fern
The ferns (Polypodiopsida or Polypodiophyta) are a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They differ from mosses by being vascular, i.e., having specialized tissue ...
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 featuring plants that thrive in rocky habitats.
*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 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.
*Sam Graham Trees - A special collection of major trees native to the state of Michigan.
*Urban Pocket Garden - European hornbeam (''
Carpinus
Hornbeams are hardwood trees in the plant genus ''Carpinus'' in the family Betulaceae. Its species occur across much of the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
Common names
The common English name ''hornbeam'' derives from the hard ...
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.
''World Flora Online'' accepts 134 species-rank taxa (119 species and 15 nothospecies) of pines as c ...
strobus''), and Kentucky coffeetree ('' Gymnocladus dioicus'').
Conservatory
The 10,000+ square-foot conservatory was designed by architect Alden Dow, 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 comosus'', '' Annona muricata'', bromeliads, '' Caryota mitis'', '' Cocos nucifera'', ''
Coffea arabica
''Coffea arabica'' (), also known as the Arabica coffee, is a species of flowering plant in the coffee and madder family Rubiaceae. It is believed to be the first species of coffee to have been cultivated and is the dominant cultivar, represe ...
'', cycads (including a '' Dioon spinulosum'' given by Smith College in the 1920s), '' Heliconia vellerigera'', '' Kigelia 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, Iran
* Musa, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Iran
* Musa Kalayeh, Gilan province, Iran
* Abu M ...
'',
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. Orchids are cosmopolitan plants that are found in almost every habitat on Earth ...
, ''
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 annua ...
sativa'', '' Piper nigrum'', '' 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 east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...
region and warm-temperate
Asia
Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...
. Collections include
bonsai
Bonsai (; , ) is the Japanese art of Horticulture, growing and shaping miniature trees in containers, with a long documented history of influences and native Japanese development over a thousand years, and with unique aesthetics, cultural hist ...
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 tropical and subtropical areas in East Asia, eastern and South Asia, southern Asia, from the Himalayas east to Japan and Indonesia. There are ...
display, as well as ''
Camellia
''Camellia'' (pronounced or ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. They are found in tropical and subtropical areas in East Asia, eastern and South Asia, southern Asia, from the Himalayas east to Japan and Indonesia. There are ...
Ficus
''Ficus'' ( or ) is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes and hemiepiphytes in the family (biology), family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few spe ...
carica'', ''
Gossypium
''Gossypium'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Gossypieae of the Malva, mallow family, Malvaceae, from which cotton is harvested. It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, Old and New Worlds. There are abo ...
Olea
''Olea'' ( ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Oleaceae. It includes 12 species native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the Middle East, southern Europe, Africa, southern Asia, and Australasia. They are evergreen trees and s ...
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 part ...
nigra'', and ''
Quercus
An oak is a hardwood tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' of the beech family. They have spirally arranged leaves, often with lobed edges, and a nut called an acorn, borne within a cup. The genus is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisp ...
suber''.
*Arid house - representing hot deserts of the world. Collections include
cactus
A cactus (: cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae (), a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, ...
,
succulent
In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meani ...
s,
euphorbia
''Euphorbia'' is a large and diverse genus of flowering plants, commonly called spurge, in the family (biology), family Euphorbiaceae.
Euphorbias range from tiny annual plants to large and long-lived trees, with perhaps the tallest being ''Eu ...
Agave
''Agave'' (; ; ) is a genus of monocots native to the arid regions of the Americas. The genus is primarily known for its succulent and xerophytic species that typically form large Rosette (botany), rosettes of strong, fleshy leaves.
Many plan ...
americana'', ''
Aloe
''Aloe'' (; also written ''Aloë'') is a genus containing over 650 species of flowering plant, flowering succulent plant, succulent plants.WFO (2022): Aloe L. Published on the Internet;http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-4000001341. Acc ...
Cyphostemma
''Cyphostemma'' is a flowering plant genus in the family (biology), family Vitaceae, with around 250 species distributed throughout the tropics and subtropics. These species are Caudex, caudiciform and used to belong to the genus ''Cissus''. The ...
juttae'', and ''
Euphorbia
''Euphorbia'' is a large and diverse genus of flowering plants, commonly called spurge, in the family (biology), family Euphorbiaceae.
Euphorbias range from tiny annual plants to large and long-lived trees, with perhaps the tallest being ''Eu ...
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.
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.
*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.
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
Botanical gardens in Michigan
{{Commons cat, Botanical gardens in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries ...
Arboreta in Michigan
:{{Seealso, Botanical garden
Michigan
Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota ...