Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Coordinates: 44°51′43″N 93°36′55″W / 44.8619°N 93.6152°W
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a 1,137-acre (4.60 km2) horticultural garden and arboretum located about 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Chanhassen, Minnesota at 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, Minnesota. It is part of the Department of Horticultural Science in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota, and open to the public every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas. An admission fee is charged. It is the Upper Midwest's largest public garden.
The arboretum's earliest area was established in 1907 as the Horticultural Research Center, which developed cold-hardy crops such as the Honeycrisp apple and Northern Lights azaleas. In 1958 the arboretum itself was begun on 160 acres (0.65 km2) founded by Leon C. Snyder. By now the arboretum is the largest, most diverse, and most complete horticultural site in Minnesota, with over 5000 plant varieties, and approaching its goal of protecting its entire watershed (1200 acres).
The arboretum features annual and perennial display gardens, plants developed for northern climates, demonstration gardens, a Japanese garden, and natural areas including woodlands, prairie, and marshes. Its collections include clematis, dahlias, ornamental grasses, hostas, iris, wildflowers, and cultivated and hardy shrub roses. The arboretum also includes a horticultural library and conservatory, as well as miles of hiking and cross-country skiing trails.
The Meyers-Deats Conservatory features bromeliad, orchid, and cactus collections and tropical houseplants. The Andersen Horticultural Library houses 15,000 books covering botany, horticulture, natural history, children's literature, research materials, and nursery catalogs.
A three-mile (5 km) drive through the arboretum takes visitors past many of the collections. Guided tours are available at extra cost, and may be taken by tram, bus, or on foot.
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Admissions
The cost of admission is $12 per adult. Ages 12 and under are free. A group of 15 or more arriving on a weekday is charged a reduced fee of $9 per adult. Students at the University of Minnesota have free admission with a student ID.
Membership
A large portion of the Arboretum's proceeds and attendance comes from membership.
| Category | Annual Fee | # Adults Admitted |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | $49 | One |
| Duo/Family* | $79 | Two |
| Family & Friends* | $99 | Four |
| University of Minnesota Students* | Free with student ID | One |
- Two membership cards may be issued upon request
There are also donor levels of membership, for which Eight adults are admitted.
Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by a member.