Our Collections

The Arie Kroeze Memorial Teahouse was dedicated at the Garden Bouquets event on October 3, 2010. It is named for the late Arie Kroeze of Iowa City, owner of Pleasant Valley Nursery and Golf Course and President of the Board of Directors of the Iowa Arboretum between 1995 and 2002.

The Children's Garden was established in a central location in the early 2000’s as a protected, fenced area where children can tend seedlings, play, and enjoy more whimsical plantings. The borders are arranged as an alphabet garden of perennials or annuals beginning with each letter. A playhouse was recently added. Children and adults alike enjoy the willow tunnel, often planted with birdhouse gourds.

The Flowering Trees draw visitors to the west central portion of the Arboretum each spring. A fine specimen of pink flowering magnolia is maturing here. A more unusual tree is the Ussurian pear (Pyrus ussuriensis) planted in 1980 by Al Ferguson which is covered in white flowers every spring. More recently, shrub magnolias from the “Little Women” series ‘Jane’ and ‘Ann’ and star magnolia ‘Jane Platt’ have been added.

Bur oak, Quercus macrocarpa, is the state tree of Iowa. How fitting then that we have planted oaks to honor the State's Governors and Lieutenant Governors! The collection is located in the southeast corner of the Arboretum just west of the Founders’ Grove. Governors, First Ladies, and Lieutenant Governors have dedicated many of these at Arbor Day celebrations. Some trees date to 1972 and are now reaching a respectable, if still juvenile, size. Several originated as transplants from the native 300-acre area across Peach Avenue.

The Iowa Collection, hostas bred by or named for Iowans, was established in 1994 by the Russ O’Harra Hosta Society. Originally located at the entrance to the Shade Garden, the planting was moved to the pergola on the north side of the Hughes Education Building in 2002. Prominent Iowa hybridizers represented in the collection include the late Russ O’Harra of Des Moines, Greg Johnson formerly of Marshalltown, Jim Schwarz of Dubuque, the late Gretchen Harshbarger of Iowa City, and Frank Riehl, also of Iowa City. The Iowa Collection was dedicated to Russ O’Harra on September 28, 2008.

The Large Conifer Collection was established in 1982 but became more prominent after construction of the Hughes Education Center just south of the planting. Conifers mature fairly rapidly and several of the trees are now rather majestic. One of the most attractive is a hybrid fir similar to Abies bornmuelleriana planted in 1980. Another spectacular and unusual tree is a larch, Larix gmelinii var. olgensis, obtained from the Morton Arboretum in 1983.

The Medium Deciduous Trees cover a large area in the center of the 40-acre 'Library of Living Plants.' These trees are very suitable for home landscapes and can provide shade and color. You will find linden, (Tilia cordata ‘Glenleven’), hybrid maple (Acer ‘Autumn Blaze’), ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba ‘Butterflies ‘) and several magnolias (‘Coral Lake’, ‘Leonard Messel’) in this collection.

The Nut Trees were established in 1982 in the far southwest corner of the 40 acres. Three men, the late Archie Sparks, the late Al Ferguson, and Ward Mally, are closely associated with this collection. They planted some of their favorites and own introductions of black walnut (Juglans nigra), shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), chestnut (Castanea), and hazelnut (Corylus americana). The cultivars in this collection are selected for large edible nuts.

A Palustrine Wetland, more commonly known as a prairie pothole, normally holds water for only part of the growing season and may be covered by trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials that provide wildlife habitat and forage. Palustrine wetlands contribute to clean ground water by trapping sediment and using nitrogen and other nutrients found in agricultural runoff.

The Perennial Collection was established in 1982 and is one of the most colorful places on the Iowa Arboretum grounds during the summer months. Since many perennials are grown for their flowers, this collection highlights plants with different bloom times or exceptionally long periods of bloom. Both native and introduced species and their cultivars are displayed. The central border was redesigned in 2008 by Ann Hutchins of Des Moines to include newer perennials and a variety of unusual ornamental grasses recently introduced into commerce.

The Shrub Border was established in 1982 along the top of the ravine. A woody plant is generally defined as a shrub if it is small or multistemmed. Shrubs often grow surprisingly fast and outgrow spaces where they are planted. Viewing mature specimens such as many in this border can give the homeowner more idea of appropriate spacing. Fine specimens of Korean boxwood (Buxus microphylla var.

The Theresa Schutt Hosta House is tucked away on the north side of the Cafferty Building. It was built and dedicated in 1997 in honor of Theresa Schutt of Woolstock, a devoted volunteer, former Board member, and well-respected hosta enthusiast. Funds were contributed by the Russ O’Harra, the Midwest, and the Harshbarger Hosta Societies. This area contains many of the oldest hosta cultivars planted at the Arboretum growing beneath a wooden, Japanese-style shade structure.