THE DAWES ARBORETUM

Plants and Research


Throughout the years, the team at The Dawes Arboretum has kept diligent records and analysis of collection plants on our grounds. Explore the various species through the plant search, learn more about our evaluation process, view our index seminum, and explore our plant collections network below:


Plant Search

Did you know there are nearly 16,000 living trees and shrubs on The Arboretum’s grounds and most are hardy in central Ohio? Of these plants, more than 5,000 are unique names.

By visiting the Plant Search via Arboretum Explorer, you are opening a new browser window to Arboretum Explorer, a database where you are able to search for plants found at The Dawes Arboretum. Arboretum Explorer is an external website and is not The Dawes Arboretum’s main website.

Note: The plants listed on Arboretum Explorer are a part of our current collection and are NOT for sale

Plant Evaluations and Introductions

With years of experience in field observations, the staff at The Arboretum regularly conduct plant evaluations. Our goal is to increase the plant diversity available to the gardening public by identifying and introducing plants showing beneficial characteristics and no invasive qualities.

Plants are evaluated in hopes of identifying or discovering species that possess qualities that are out of the ordinary, such as superior ornamental characteristics, a hardier form and more insect or disease resistance than its counterparts.

Plant evaluation is also used to identify the potential for a species to become invasive. A number of parameters are monitored, such as the ability to outcompete native species.. Fruiting characteristics need to be researched to see if a plant’s seeds are viable and to measure the risk of their dispersal by wind or animals.

Additionally, The Dawes Arboretum occasionally selects, names and introduces new cultivars of plants. Often these are seedlings or mutations originating on Arboretum grounds.

Accreditation and PCN Collections

The Dawes Arboretum is proud to be one of only 30 arboreta worldwide accredited at Level IV (highest possible level) by Arbnet. This accreditation recognizes The Arboretum’s plant collection plans and policy, the number of species in the collection, ability to partner in scientific research and commitment to public education and plant conservation.

The Dawes Arboretum is also part of the American Public Gardens Association Plant Collections Network (PCN). This network promotes plant genetic material preservation and excellence in plant collections management. PCN recognizes Nationally Accredited Plant Collections which often serve as references for plant identification. Collection holders share plant material with other organizations for evaluation and research. The Arboretum is home to four Nationally Accredited Plant Collections which are maintained with proper documentation and maintenance practices as defined by the mandates established for inclusion in a PCN collection. These collections include:

  • Acer (maple) – The Dawes Arboretum serves as a partner in this multi-institutional collection.
  • Metasequoia (dawn redwood) – This collection is a genetic and taxonomic collection.
  • Aesculus – (buckeye and horse-chestnut)
  • Hamamelis (witch-hazel)

Visit our collections at The Arboretum today!

Index Seminum

The Dawes Arboretum prides itself on its plant collections. Many of the plants in our collections are from documented populations collected as seeds from the wild. This documented material is valuable for scientific study, cultural assessments and genetic diversity.

Seeds from our plant collections or those collected in the wild are often offered only to collaborating institutions who offer their own list of seeds. A list of excess seeds offered for trade is called an Index Seminum, which is Latin for “seed list.” The usual qualification for participating in the Index Seminum program is returning the favor providing a list of their available seeds.

Our Index Seminum is typically produced and distributed to participating institutions in the beginning of the year.

Contact The Arboretum at indexseminum@dawesarb.org or 800.44.DAWES to participate.