Sustainability Sustainability Image Morris Arboretum & Gardens is committed to advancing sustainability through its work in research, horticulture, and land stewardship. As part of the University of Pennsylvania, the Morris contributes to broader efforts to address environmental challenges and advance sustainable practices. Through ongoing initiatives and partnerships, the Morris supports innovation, education, and practices that promote resilience, conservation, and responsible care for the natural world. Morris Arboretum & Gardens is a key partner in realizing Penn’s Climate and Sustainability Action Plan (CSAP) 4.0 , which lays out the University’s ambitious sustainability goals for the next five years, as well as Penn’s path toward carbon neutrality by 2042.   Horticulture Center LEED® Platinum Certified Horticulture Center  Image Conserving natural resources to build a sustainable future.  This 20,840-square foot facility provides work space for the Morris’s horticulture, administrative, and facilities staff. The space provides the infrastructure needed to match the tremendous growth the Morris has experienced over the past 30 years and to address future expansion of the institution. The “green” elements of the Horticulture Center serve an even greater function, through providing unique opportunities to educate the public about the importance of protecting our natural resources.  The Horticulture Center is not open to the general public to visit without a class, tour, or event scheduled in advance. The general public is welcome and encouraged to schedule a prearranged visit to see the eco-friendly …

Great Trees Great Trees Image Image One of the most admired features of the Morris Arboretum & Gardens is its collection of large and beautiful trees. When John and Lydia Morris first purchased the property in 1887, it was virtually devoid of trees. They soon launched into an intense tree-planting program and under careful nurturing, these trees have grown into the beautiful specimens for which the Morris is well known today. Great Trees Highlights Image Dawn-redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides A fast-growing tree with a majestic  habit, golden fall color, reddish brown  bark—fissured and exfoliating in long narrow strips—and a spectacular buttressing fluted trunk. This beautiful grove, now over 100 feet tall, was planted in ideal conditions—full sun and next to a stream that provides moisture. These trees, which lived alongside the dinosaurs, were once believed extinct before being rediscovered in China in the 1940s. Image Ginkgo, maidenhair-tree Ginkgo biloba One of the world’s oldest tree species, growing on earth for well over 150 million years. With striking gold fall color, this female  specimen, planted by the Morrises,  has messy and very smelly fruit. Non-fruiting males make excellent city trees. A male specimen is near the Edith Bogue magnolia Image Weeping European beech Fagus sylvatica f. pendula Native to Europe, planted before 1909 by the Morrises. Branches weep down and form roots where they touch the ground. New rings of trees grow outward as the original tree ages and dies. An impressive tree in all seasons with its smooth gray elephant hide-like bark, lustrous green leaves in summer, and red to golden brown fall color. Small holes in trunk are made by sap-sucking birds. Image Blue Atlas cedar Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’ The straight species is native to the Atlas Mountains of North Africa. Layered branches with blue-green needles create a picturesque landscape tree. Small finger-shaped male cones on lower branches pollinate attractive large …

Historic Structures Historic Structures Image The historic structures at Morris Arboretum & Gardens bring the story of the landscape to life. Explore charming buildings, stonework, and architectural details that reflect the Morris estate’s past and the vision and creativity of the people who shaped it. Each structure adds a new layer of character to the gardens and invites visitors to look more closely at the Morris and its history. Image The Log Cabin Visitors can step into the shoes of our founder, Lydia Morris, and take a trip back in time in the Log Cabin. From entertaining friends to enjoying quiet time on the porch watching the woodlands along the stream, Lydia used the Log Cabin as her private retreat. John Morris designed and ordered the construction of the cabin in 1908. Similar in style to the nostalgic vacation cabins of the Adirondacks, complete with a river-stone cobble chimney. The building was cool in the summer, and a fireplace provided warmth for the cold winter. The Log Cabin was later restored in 1995 and 2018, and remains an idyllic spot to enjoy spring bulbs and other short-lived native plants particularly.  Image Photo: Freddy Clark The Springhouse See one of the few remaining springhouses in Philadelphia and all its hidden treasures! This Springhouse pre-dates the Morris estate and can be traced back to when the property was first used as a dairy farm. In its home, alongside the spring-fed creek, the springhouse was used to store dairy products and other chilled perishables. However, the larger adjacent building remains a mystery. Its structural accents, like a chimney and fireplace, are speculated to have also been used for storage, dairy product preparations, or possibly even a smokehouse.  In 2004 this historic structure underwent a complex restoration. The stone walls were rebuilt, including a 38-foot wall with seating, granite steps, brick paving, new wooden beams to suggest a roof, and enhancements to the surrounding landscape.  The …

Garden Features Garden Features Image Almost around every corner, visitors will discover unusual gardens and garden areas that are unique to the Morris Arboretum & Gardens. John and Lydia Morris designed many of the garden features themselves (along with the help of some of the finest architects of their time) so that each space reflected their cultural interests.   The Dorrance H. Hamilton Fernery Image Photo: Paul W. Meyer The Dorrance H. Hamilton Fernery is the only remaining freestanding Victorian fernery in North America. Originally built in 1899 under the supervision of John Morris, the fernery stands today as a historical time piece, documenting the British obsession with ferns and glasshouses during the Victorian era. The building was constructed using locally mined stone and utilized cutting edge technology in glass cutting, steam heating, and architectural elements.  Nestled in a curve of land below the Rose Garden, the Fernery has become an iconic part of the Morris Arboretum & Gardens. Its glittering rooftop welcoming visitors into a peaceful space filled with ferns, trickling waterfalls and reflecting pools. A wonderful place to explore in all seasons.  Learn more about the Fernery →  Mercury Loggia Image Photo: Ken Tapp The Mercury Loggia was constructed in 1913 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Compton estate. The Loggia is a small, temple-like structure constructed of Wissahickon schist with an arched plaster roof and mosaic tile floor. Located at the western edge of the English Park, the Loggia captures the feel of a Roman temple with a bronze statue of Mercury, recognizable by his winged sandals, nestled within. The Grotto beneath the Loggia is an artificial cavern created and lined with Wissahickon schist. Historically, grottos similar to this one were designed as wonderful locations for intellectual ponderings. A narrow winding path leads through the grotto and out into the Ravine Garden on the north side of the Loggia. …

Natural Areas Natural Areas Image The Natural Areas offer a wilder side of the gardens where meadows, woodlands, and wetlands create a rich habitat for plants and wildlife. These spaces reveal the Morris at its most expansive and untamed. Wander the trails, listen for birds, and enjoy the feeling of stepping deeper into nature. Image Today, the Morris's Natural Areas in the lower meadows look almost as they did when the property was the Morrises’ estate. In the early 1900s, John Morris drained the area and installed a tile field for grazing cattle. Over the years, sections of the tile field broke down, making the area marshy from underground springs and groundwater. The combination of water and soil types made the location perfect for the development of a wetland. After receiving funds from federal and state agencies, local foundations and generous individuals, restoration of the pre-existing wetland took place in 2002. The new construction included both shallow areas for vegetation as well as several deep holes to accommodate the overwintering of fish and amphibians. To encourage birds, waterfowl and mammals to inhabit the area, bluebird, kestrel, wood duck and bat boxes were installed. The Morris’s wetland is now a thriving example of an ecosystem that supports an abundance of native plant life, as well as year-round and migratory bird populations. Contact Ryan Drake, McCausland Natural Areas Manager at rdrake@upenn.edu . Wonders of the Wetland Take an audio tour using your mobile device on your next visit! This audio tour of the Wallace-Kane Wetland features 10 recordings that dive into the history, ecology, and management of this special place. Take the Audio Tour Wildlife & Bird Checklists Image iNaturalist See the most common wildlife sightings on iNaturalist and add your own.   Learn More Image eBird Hotspot See the most common bird sightings on eBird Hotspot and add your own. Learn More Image Seasonal Birds at Morris  List compiled by Ruth Pfeffer.  Learn …

Audio Tours Audio Tours Image Wonders of the Wetland Audio Tour Image Stop 1: Welcome Welcome to the audio tour of the Wallace-Kane Wetland at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens! This program features 10 recordings that dive into the history, ecology, and management of this special place. Go at your own pace and create your own sequence.  Learn More Image Stop 2: Shady Vista This stop on the audio tour tells the story of the Wetland’s history. What did this site look like in the 1800s, and how did the Morrises work to create the conditions you see today? Learn More Image Stop 3: Buttonbush Learn about this gorgeous native shrub and its pollinator patrons. Learn More Image Stop 4: Sweetgum Sweetgum has a long history in relationship with the Lenape people. The Lenape word for Sweetgum tree is, ‘taxkwahoakaniminshi.’ Learn More Image Stop 5: River Birch In addition to being beautiful, river birch trees have amazing wildlife value. Learn More …

Membership Membership Image Memberships Made For You Join or Renew Today → Become a member and enjoy the Morris all year long. Membership provides unlimited admission, special benefits, and opportunities to connect more deeply with the gardens while supporting our mission. The Morris is proud to offer streamlined membership packages that maximize convenience and flexibility at all levels. Choosing to join at the Supporter, Patron, and Benefactor levels also offer expansive benefits along with the pride of supporting the Morris’s mission. Please Note: Our systems are currently experiencing a delay in processing membership materials, including digital membership cards.  If you have purchased a membership and recieved a confirmation email, you can still visit the Morris by presenting the email to our staff when you arrive. We appreciate your patience.    Image Click the above image for a larger version of the membership chart             Membership Levels Individual Admits 1 named member with options to purchase up to 4 Youth add-ons (ages 3 – 17): Purchase • Give a Gift of Membership Individual: $75  Individual + 1 Youth: $87     Individual + 2 Youth: $99    Individual + 3 Youth: $111 Individual + 4 Youth: $123 *see additional benefits listed on chart above Friends & Family Admits 2 people with options to purchase up to 4 Youth add-ons (ages 3 – 17): Purchase • Give a Gift of Membership Friends & Family: $125 Friends & Family + 1 Youth: $137 Friends & Family + 2 Youth: $149 Friends & Family + 3 Youth: $161 Friends & Family + 4 Youth: $173 *see additional benefits listed on chart above Supporter Admits 4 people with options to purchase up to 4 Youth add-ons (ages 3 – 17): Purchase • Give a Gift of Membership Supporter: $250 Supporter + 1 Youth: $262 Supporter + 2 Youth: $274 Supporter + 3 Youth: $286 Supporter + 4 Youth: $298 *see additional benefits listed on chart above Patron Admits 6 people with options to purchase up to 4 Youth add-ons (ages 3 – 17): Purchase • …