Research & Collections Research & Collections Image Plant science has been at the heart of Morris Arboretum & Gardens of the University of Pennsylvania for more than a century, helping establish the Morris as one of our nation's leading university-based arboreta. Today, our Plant Science team advances knowledge of plant biodiversity, evolution, floristics, taxonomy, conservation, and the complex relationships between plants and the ecosystems they support. This work builds on a longstanding commitment to documenting and understanding the flora of Pennsylvania, resulting in landmark publications such as   The Plants of Pennsylvania . Drawing on this strong foundation, we lead and contribute to regional, national, and international collaborations that advance botanical science and support plant conservation around the world. With the opening of our new Plant Science Lab in 2025, the Morris is now poised to expand its impact even further, creating new opportunities for research, discovery, and scientific partnership. Image Meet the Plant Science Team Learn More Image Plant Science Lab Learn More Image Herbarium & Networks Learn More Image Garden Explorer Learn …

Meet the Plant Science Team Meet the Plant Science Team Image Plant Science Staff Image Dr. Morgan Gostel Dr. Morgan Gostel is the John J. Willaman Director of Plant Science at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens of the University of Pennsylvania. His research in plant systematics emphasizes diversity and evolution of what he refers to as his botanical A, B, Cs namely three families of flowering plants including A raliaceae  (ginseng and ivy), B urseraceae (frankincense and myrrh), and C ompositae (daisies and sunflowers). His work has especially been focused in tropical Africa and Madagascar, but the plants in these families are distributed worldwide. Dr. Gostel is also a research associate in the Department of Botany at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History and the Botanical Research Institute of Texas at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. Since 2015, he has led the Global Genome Initiative for Gardens (GGI-Gardens), an international partnership of botanic gardens dedicated to supporting the collection of genome-quality tissues from living collections and their preservation in biobanks to support genomics research. Image Dr. Cynthia Skema Dr. Cynthia Skema is a botanical scientist at Morris and her research centers on the evolution, systematics, and conservation of flowering plants. She enjoys conducting research in the field, the herbarium, and the lab, and believes working in all three arenas is necessary to best understand the plants she studies. Dr. Skema specializes in the systematics of the cotton family (Malvaceae sensu lato), especially the Dombeyoideae, and co-coordinates the Malvaceae Taxonomic Expert Network for the World Flora Online. She is also interested in the digitization and dissemination of herbarium data and coordinates the Mid-Atlantic Herbaria Consortium. Her other research interest is the evolution of separate sexes in angiosperms and she has a soft spot for the floras of Pennsylvania, Madagascar, and New Zealand. Image …

Field Trips Field Trips Image At Morris Arboretum & Gardens, educators can bring learning to life through outdoor experiences that connect directly to classroom goals. Field trips and guided programs are designed to support curriculum standards while engaging students through exploration and discovery. From sensory-based tours for younger learners to ecology-focused experiences for older students, the Morris offers a dynamic setting for hands-on learning in nature. Field Trips & Youth Tours  Please note: At least three weeks’ advance notice is needed for guided tours. Please review our FAQ on our Group Tours page  to learn how to book a field trip. Fill out the request form on the Group Tours page when you are ready to schedule an outdoor educational experience to enhance your students’ at-home or hybrid school instruction. Choose from the following field trip tours:  General Tour (All Ages)  Duration: 60 minutes  Explore our 92-acre living museum with a knowledgeable guide Understand the importance of plants and our responsibility as caretakers of the environment See unique and champion trees from around the world Visit and learn the history behind signature garden features such as the Morris Pond, the Fernery, and the Log Cabin Meets PA STEELS Standards: 3.1: Life Science; 3.2: Physical Science; 3.4: Environmental, Literacy and Sustainability; 3.5: Technology and Engineering. This tour meets all grade level standards. For more information or to schedule a field trip, email  tours@morrisarboretum.org . 4 Seasons Through the 5 Senses Tour (PreK)  Duration: 60 minutes  Take a sensory journey through the Morris  Learn the natural characteristics of each season  Collect plant material to bring back to the classroom  Meets PA STEELS Standards: 3.1: Life Science; 3.3: Earth and Space Science; 3.5: Technology and Engineering. Grade level STEELS Standards can be sent by request. For more information or to schedule a field trip, email tours@morrisarboretum.org . Tree …

Pursue Your Joy This Summer at Morris Arboretum & Gardens! September 16, 2026 Philadelphia, PA—Just in time to mark America’s 250th, Morris Arboretum & Gardens brings America’s past and present vividly to life through three interconnected exhibitions. Beginning May 22 and running through September 30, 2026 , Garden Railway: Revolutionary Philly invites visitors of all ages to take a miniature journey through eighteenth-century Philadelphia. Bustling model trains wind along more than a third of a mile of track, passing handcrafted replicas of iconic landmarks such as Independence Hall, and scenes modeled after events like the Battle of Germantown. Get more information at  morrisarboretum.org .  Running in conjunction with the Garden Railway, the self-guided exhibition Plants from the Colonial Era highlights the trees, herbs, and flowers that fed, healed, sheltered, and inspired colonial Philadelphians. We bring America’s past right into the present with Pursuit of Happiness: Finding Joy in Nature , on view from June 13 through August 31, 2026. Inspired by one of the nation’s founding ideals, this exhibition invites visitors to slow down, play, and reflect through thoughtful and whimsical experiences woven throughout the gardens. Together, these exhibitions reveal how ideas rooted in the past continue to shape how we experience nature and joy today. Press Release Image Teaser Summary New exhibitions, special weekends, and seasonal experiences celebrate history, beauty, and the simple pleasure of being in …

Seasons Magazine Seasons Magazine Image Seasons Magazine brings together stories from across Morris Arboretum & Gardens, offering a deeper look at the gardens, programs, and community that make the Morris so special. With features on exhibitions, research, and seasonal experiences, each issue connects readers to what’s happening throughout the year and invites them to explore more. Seasons  Fall/Winter 2026 Read the latest issue below, or download the PDF .  Having trouble reading the issue? Zoom in on the PDF download or use the "+" button below.  Past Issues of Seasons Fall/Winter 2026 •  Spring/Summer 2026 •  Fall/Winter 2025 •  Spring/Summer 2025 •  Fall/Winter 2024 •  Spring/Summer 2024  •  Fall/Winter 2023 •  Spring/Summer 2023 •  Fall/Winter 2022 • Spring/Summer 2021 •  Fall/Winter 2021 • Spring/Summer 2020 •  Fall /Winter 2020  •  Fall 2019  •  Summer 2019 • Spring/Winter 2019  •   Fall 2018  • Summer 2018  •  Spring/Winter 2018 • Fall 2018   …

Know Before You Go Know Before You Go Image Everything you need to know before your visit. Find information about accessibility, Garden rules, photography, current closures, and other details to help you make the most of your time at the Morris. Pet Policy No pets, aside from registered service animals, are allowed at the Morris.   Image Credit: Chad Bowditch Tree & Garden Rules To help protect the Morris's living collection and ensure an enjoyable visit for all guests, please observe the following rules: Please stay on paths and lawns. Do not climb in trees, walk through flower beds, enter fountains, or disturb plants or wildlife. Picnicking is permitted only in designated picnic areas. Cooking and grilling are not allowed. Pets are not permitted, except for service animals. Bicycles, scooters, skateboards, rollerblades, Frisbees, and other recreational equipment or sporting activities are prohibited. Visitors may not enter the Morris outside regular visiting hours. Smoking and the use of tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco, are prohibited throughout the property.     Accessibility Arrival Accessible parking is available in the parking lot just beyond the Widener Welcome Center. In the event that the lot is full, we offer overflow parking near the entrance kiosk. Vehicles may use the loading zone in front of the Welcome Center to unload passengers when needed. Access to the Welcome Center is barrier free. Mobility The Morris property includes some hilly terrain. There is an ADA-approved paved walking path with less than 5% grade and benches strategically situated throughout the Morris but walking some areas could prove challenging. The majority of the Morris, including the Out on a Limb exhibit, is accessible from the paved pathways. Mobility Scooters & Wheelchairs We offer complimentary mobility scooters and wheelchairs for mobility-challenged guests to use around the Garden during their visit. We have three electric scooters and two manual wheelchairs …

Archives Archives Image Welcome The Archives serves the Morris education, development, horticulture, and marketing staff, and is also open to qualified researchers by appointment. It is run by a dedicated team of volunteers within the Education Department. Image Scope The Morris Arboretum & Gardens Archives was established in 1987 to acquire, conserve, and catalog one-of-a-kind documents, letters, maps, architectural blueprints, landscape drawings, financial ledgers, diaries, lantern slides, photos, and negatives. Historic books, newspapers, research material, reports, and artifacts are also cataloged at the Arboretum. Additionally, from 1932 to present, the Archives houses records of the Morris Advisory Board, faculty and staff, grant and project reports, blueprints, landscape drawings, slides and photographs. Image Online Collections Our online collections include documents from different eras of the Morris, historic photos, lantern slides, objects, blueprints, and text. New images are added regularly. Historic Photos Private Estate 1887-1932 University Era 1933-1974 Public Garden - After 1974 Maps Arboretum Voices Finding Aids Visiting the Archives Hours are by appointment. To arrange a visit, please contact us . Additional Information for Researchers or History Buffs The Morris Arboretum Bulletin , published monthly from 1935 to the 1970s, is available online at Biodiversity Heritage Library. Learn more . The Morris Family of Philadelphia, Descendants of Anthony Morris, by Robert C. Moon, MD, Five volumes, 1898.  Learn more . Finding aids for several Morris collections are online at Philadelphia Area Archives, hosted by the University of Pennsylvania Libraries. Suggested keyword searches are “Morris Arboretum,” “Morris Family Papers,” “Thompson Family Papers.” Learn more . The John and Lydia Morris Travel Albums 1881-1906 are at the Hagley Library and Archives.  Learn more . The William Henry Russell collection of Morris family papers, including papers from the …