Location & Driving Directions

Two hundred thirty acres extending from 40th Avenue East and East Madison on the south, to Highway SR-520 and Lake Washington on the north.

Map and Directions to the Arboretum

Arboretum Trail Map (.pdf)    (.jpg)

Design & Overview of Collections

The Washington Park Arboretum was designed by James Dawson of the Olmsted Brothers firm, and was developed in the 1930's with WPA funds and labor. Among the Arboretum's 20,000 trees, shrubs and vines, more than 10,000 are catalogued in collections. 4,600 different species are cultivated varieties from around the world, and 750 of the taxa were collected in the wild. 139 plants in the Washington Park Arboretum on the endangered species list. 95% of the Arboretum's collections are on display. Collections include rhododendron, azalea, mountain ash, pine, spruce, cedar, fir, crabapple, holly, magnolia, camellia, and Japanese maple.

Hours of Operation & Admissions

The Washington Park Arboretum is open from dawn to dusk seven days a week. The gates on the north and south end of Arboretum Drive East are closed during non-open hours. The Graham Visitors Center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. Admission to the Washington Park Arboretum is free.
The Japanese Garden admission fee is $5.00; for information, including events and hours, please call 206-684-4725.

Contact Numbers

• Graham Visitors Center: 206-543-8800
• Arboretum Foundation: 206-325-4510
• Japanese Garden: 206-684-4725
• Education Department: 206-543-8801
• Center For Urban Horticulture: 206-543-8616
• Elisabeth C. Miller Horticulture Library Plant Answer Line: 206-897-5268

Goals

• To enhance public appreciation for the aesthetic diversity of temperate woody plants.
• To educate the public and regional school population about urban landscape use and the natural biology of temperate woody plants.
• To conserve both natural and cultivated woody plant taxa to preserve their diversity for future appreciation.
• To cooperate with other similar institutions regionally, nationally and internationally.

Facilities

• Graham Visitors Center and Gift Shop - Built in 1985 with $700,000 raised by The Arboretum Foundation.
• Seattle's Japanese Garden - An authentic and exquisite stroll garden which features a beautiful collection of Japanese and Northwest plantings, sculptures, rocks and wildlife.
• Patricia Calvert Greenhouse - A valuable membership resource for the propagation of rare and unusual plants from Arboretum collections.

The Arboretum Foundation

The Arboretum Foundation, a non-profit membership organization, has provided stewardship for the Washington Park Arboretum since 1935 through membership and volunteer services, fundraising and public information. Members receive discounts on programs, a newsletter and colorful quarterly magazine, early admission to plant sales and hands-on horticultural learning opportunities. For membership information, call 206-325-4510 or e-mail gvc@arboretumfoundation.org.

Administration

• University of Washington - responsible for the plant collections and educational programs, in association with Director of University of Washington Botanic Gardens - Sandra Lier
• UW School of Forest Resources
• The Arboretum Foundation - provides funding and volunteer assistance for the maintenance, development and renovation of Arboretum gardens and collections.
• Executive Director of the Arboretum Foundation - Paige Miller
• President of the Arboretum Foundation - Neal Lessenger
• City of Seattle - owns the land and buildings; its Parks and Recreation Department maintains park functions.
• Superintendent of Parks & Recreation - Timothy A Gallagher

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