American University Arboretum & Gardens

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Washington D.C., DC
American University Arboretum & Gardens

Greening the American Dream by Greening the AU Campus. Dedicated in 2004, it encompasses the entire 84-acre campus.

Nestled among the embassies and residential neighborhoods of northwest Washington, D.C., the American University Arboretum and Gardens is one of the city's hidden gems. American University is a global academic community, home to nearly 11,000 undergraduate, graduate, and law students from around 145 countries and 590 full-time faculty. Diversity is also the hallmark of AU's arboretum, which contai

ns one of the most varied collections of ornamental plantings of any university in the country. More than 2500 trees—over 130 different species and varieties—provide a shady canopy, beneath which thrives a layered understory of flowering trees, shrubs, ornamental grasses, and seasonal plantings. Beds display bold arrangements and striking combinations of plants, all carefully selected by our landscape architects and tended by staff arborists and horticulturists. Throughout the arboretum, you will find an array of pleasing features and unexpected spaces—sculpture gardens, pocket parks, ponds, and streams—that invite you to pause, for contemplation or conversation.

07/17/2025

Green Industry Pros Take Over AU! 🌳♻️🌱

What an incredible day at the Green Industry Professional Field Day & Trade Show at American University! Hosted by The Professional Grounds Management Society DC Branch, The Northern Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association, and the Virginia Cooperative Extension, today was a huge success, bringing together leading minds in sustainable grounds management. Go Eagles!!

Our campus was buzzing with energy as attendees participated in eight concurrent sessions across four key areas: Trees, Landscape Maintenance, Spanish Language, and Sustainability & Architecture. From cutting-edge techniques to vital industry certifications (like ISA CEU, VNLA, NALP LIC, MD LTE & CGM), it was a day of rich learning and connection.

We loved seeing so many dedicated professionals committed to greener practices! Big thanks to all the organizers, speakers, and participants for making this event a beacon for sustainable innovation. And thank you to our sponsors!

03/31/2025

Get your gloves and shovels ready because Campus Beautification Day is back 🌳🌸🧑‍🌾 We hope to see you all there! Information on the event can be found above

03/27/2024

Get your gloves and shovels ready because Campus Beautification Day is back 🌳🌸🧑‍🌾 We hope to see you all there! Information on the event can be found below. American University

07/27/2023

In 1997, the seed of something special was planted in American University's strategic plan: the goal of campus beautification. As the university’s commitment to green space and environmental stewardship took root, so too did more than 500 species and varieties of woody plants—native and nonnative, common and exotic—and masses of perennials in a rainbow of hues. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the award-winning American University Arboretum & Gardens—84 cultivated acres of American idyll. Dotted with more than 5,000 trees, the arboretum is an oasis of green and tranquility in a city of white marble and movers and shakers—a place for our community to gather, reflect, relax, and plant our own seeds of change.

📖: https://www.american.edu/magazine/time-of-the-season.cfm

03/27/2023

Campus Beautification Day 2023!!! We hope to see you all there for the 20th Anniversary of the AU Arboretum!

04/20/2022

This tree is in bloom! Can you identify this species? 💕💕💕

04/01/2022

Campus Beatification Days 2022 are almost here! We look forward to this time as it allows our AU community to come together and celebrate our beautiful gardens. Above is information on how to register as well as the schedule for both days.

03/23/2022

The cherry blossoms have arrived! 🌸🌸🌸 It’s absolutely wonderful to see our community enjoying them as much as we are! Have you seen them yet?

03/16/2022

The daffodils are out and ready for Spring! Are you as excited as them for this weather? ☀️🌿🌼🍃

03/02/2022

We always love signs of springtime! Here are some daffodils getting ready to bloom🌼. Although Spring 2022 officially begins March 20th, campus is starting to see some big changes🌸. What do you look forward to most this season? 🌷

02/23/2022

Did you know our arboretum displays 385 native and adaptable plant species? Here is a heavenly bamboo plant (Nandina domestica). This plant is one of our adaptable species, as it is native to the eastern regions of Asia. Although it is indeed heavenly, this plant is technically not a bamboo species.

02/16/2022

This week, the arboretum welcomed a light dusting of snow❄️! What’s your favorite weather?
⚡️☔️🌪☀️❄️🌈☁️ We love it all!

Address

4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington D.C., DC
20016

Telephone

+12028852544

Website

http://www.american.edu/finance/facilities/Arboretum.cfm

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