The WashU Arboretum makes campus more livable, healthy, and beautiful, benefiting students and the environment as a whole.
Explore our campus trees
Visit Tree Match
A learning tool used to visually identify a tree developed by Toby Utterback, Amee Rothman, and Travis Phulnauth.
News & Announcements
Year in Review: 2024
2024 was a year of growth, change, and opportunity for the WashU Arboretum. The highlight for the year was WashU’s recognition as a Level III Arboretum under the ArbNet certification – a rare achievement. Currently, less than 100 arboreta in the world have a Level III or Level IV designation—fewer than 20 of those are […]
Early-Season Blooms Tour – February 26, 2025 (Links to an external site)
Cohosted with the Center for the Environment for Environmental Research & Creativity Week
(Updated) Event: Love Letters to Trees
Do you have an oak that you study under? A magnolia whose flowers you adore? A ginkgo you hold your nose around but still cherish? Visit the Arboretum table at the times and places below to write a letter to your favorite tree! This is the third year of the Love Letters to Trees campaign, […]
Campus tree benefits & services
6,693
trees on campus per treekeeper
5M
gallons of water saved
125,329
KWH saved by shading buildings
These trees reduce our greenhouse footprint by sequestering 252,417 lbs of CO2 and helping us avoid release of another 432,240 lbs. They also remove 2,689 lbs of other pollutants from the air.
WashU is one of only ten colleges and universities in Missouri to gain annual recognition as a Tree Campus Higher Education.
WashU holds a Level 3 accreditation by the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program for achieving standards of professional practices deemed important for arboreta and botanic gardens.
Upcoming Events
Event: Spring Foraging Walk – April 4, 2025
FRIDAY, April 4, 2025 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. MEET AT THE BOTTOM OF BROOKINGS STEPS Ever wonder which plants encountered in your daily life you can or cannot eat? Join Dr. Froggi VanRiper and Arboretum team member, Michael Barash, for this interactive tour highlighting edible or medicinal spring plant species that can be found […]
Event: Student TreeKeepers Workshop – March 28, 2025
FRIDAY, March 28, 2025 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. McDonnell 362 The WashU Arboretum and Forest ReLeaf, a local nonprofit, are hosting an abridged TreeKeepers course for current students interested in learning everything there is to know about trees. This class is designed for any student with an interest in trees, regardless of experience level, […]