Blog

New name, new look, the same commitment to connecting plants, people, and place...

An herbarium is a lot like a library, except instead of books it holds botanical specimens. The Morris Arboretum Herbarium contains more than 25,000 specimens, all of which have been digitized. From pressed orchids to parasitic mistletoe to oak branches with acorns, the Herbarium hosts a diverse array of plants.  

Two similar plant species caught my attention at the Morris this week because of their attractive and early season blooms: Galanthus nivalis (snowdrop) and Leucojum vernum (spring snowflake). ). Often called “harbingers of spring,” both are bulb plants and have nodding flowers, sometimes spotted peeking through snow (hence the common names).

Edgeworthia chrysantha is a shrub that bears fragrant flowers in the winter. While most genus names honor one person who is often a man, Edgeworthia commemorates a brother and his half-sister, each notable in their own right.

While the warmer winters in Philadelphia may not be normal in 2023, it could be normalized sooner than we think, and the Arboretum has been actively thinking ahead of climate change for over a decade. 

We are pleased to announce that the Morris Arboretum has received a first-time grant from Wawa in support of our Active-Duty Free Admission Program.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides (dawn-redwood) is a deciduous conifer from Central China that is often referred to as a “living fossil,” and the Morris Arboretum currently cultivates forty-eight of these majestic trees.

As we all prepare for colder months, many of our plants are doing the same: dropping their leaves, slowing glucose production, and storing excess food in their root systems. Some plants in our gardens are still displaying vibrant fall color, and others have even begun to bloom. I hope you enjoy stumbling upon these plants at the Arboretum and discovering new ones along the way.