The Arboretum: a living library of trees by RBG KewRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Stretching across two-thirds of the Gardens, the Arboretum surrounds all our glasshouses. Here you can find 2,000 species. Look out for rare and ancient varieties like dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) and our Japanese Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga japonica).
Arboretum in the autumn by RBG KewRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The UK experiences distinct seasons. The Arboretum showcases the beauty of each season with myriad species of trees. Many of the trees are over 260 years old. They've been part of our story since 1759 - when the Gardens were first established.
Arboretum in the summer by RBG KewRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The word Arboretum means ‘a place with trees’ in Latin. Over 300 scientists work at Kew. The Arboretum is a living reference library that helps our researchers study various tree species and track the impact of climate change on threatened habitats.
Arboretum in the winter by RBG KewRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Our collection of temperate woody plants is spread over 100 hectares. 30 hectares are semi-natural woodland.
Our Japanese pagoda tree by RBG KewRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Our Japanese pagoda tree (Styphnolobium japonicum) dates back to the 18th century. Despite its name, the tree is native to China and was introduced to Japan.
Our coastal redwood by RBG KewRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew
One of our coastal redwood trees (Sequoia sempervirens) is as high as a 13-storey building, 40 metres to be precise. This makes it the tallest tree in the Gardens.
Copper beech trees in our Arboretum by RBG KewRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Part of the rich oak family at Kew is the weeping beech (Fagus sylvatica). Some of our trees set roots from the branches launching a second generation of trunks around the original.
The Arboretum is a great place to walk by RBG KewRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Research at Kew is revealing the complex relationship between trees and fungi. Trees help each other and grow together. We hope you will feel the magic as you wander through the Arboretum.
Where Kew’s trees are born by RBG KewRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew
