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

Godshalk Meadow: Testing Ground for New Plants

Beijing Gold Peking LilacTesting. Testing. Godshalk Meadow, named after Clarence Godshalk, former Director of the Arboretum, is used mainly to evaluate new or underused plants. Herbaceous perennials, ornamental grasses, shrub roses, evergreens, woody shrubs, ornamental trees, and shade trees are put to the test—evaluated on their hardiness, resistance to disease and insects, key attributes (flower color, fragrance, fall color, etc.), and size at maturity.

At The Morton Arboretum, we want to make sure that the plants we recommend will thrive in local landscapes and gardens. Godshalk Meadow, located just south of the Ozarks Collection alongside the DuPage River, is where we put plants to the test.

Several noteworthy plants that are currently under observation are Sullivan Alaska-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Sullivan'), Beijing Gold® Peking lilac (Syringa pekinensis 'Zhang Zhiming'), and gold bar silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Gold Bar').