The Morton Arb

Trees & Gardens

Use our Interactive Collections Map and our Plant Collections Map to identify where plants are located on our grounds.

Explore our Plant Database

Integrated data of The Morton Arboretum's living collections, herbarium, interactive collections map, and photographs. Search database

How Plants are Named
The words in the scientific name of a plant all mean something. Learn how plants get such interesting names. Click here

How To Read a Plant Label at the Arboretum

Gardens

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Outpost Wild Garden: A Living Classroom

Wild GardenOn the West Side, just west of Thornhill Education Center, is this wonderful tranquil garden, located alongside the Outpost building, erected in 1948 under the direction of May T. Watts. The garden was developed in the early 1970s, by Arboretum naturalist Richard Wason, as a teaching aid for school children participating in Arboretum classes. Today, the garden is used as a living classroom for students, nature enthusiasts, and scouts participating in Arboretum merit badge programs.

A short walking trail takes you through the garden, enabling you to admire the beautiful array of woodland and prairie plants. Keep your eye out for trout lily (Erythronium americanum), prairie crabapple (Malus ioensis), and eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis).