American University Arboretum and Gardens

Washington, D.C., United States

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The American University Arboretum and Gardens in Washington, D.C., encompasses an 84-acre campus transformed into an accredited and award-winning arboretum, officially dedicated in 2003.

Featuring over 5,000 trees and 500 species of woody plants, it includes the oldest and largest Scarlet Oak on campus as well as blooming collections of cherry trees, magnolias, redbuds, dogwoods, and flowering bulbs that attract pollinators and wildlife.

The campus combines educational, environmental, and recreational purposes, hosting sustainable gardens such as the AU Edible Campus, which showcases organic, pesticide-free food gardens serving as living laboratories for students. Designed through thoughtful landscape architecture inspired by Frederick Law Olmsted Sr. and informed by modern sustainable practices, the arboretum provides serene green spaces with meadows, gardens, and green roofs, reinforcing the university’s commitment to sustainability and stewardship of the environment.

The planting strategy considers local wildlife, such as choosing daffodils over tulips due to deer preferences