The UCI Arboretum is a 12.5-acre botanic garden and research facility located one mile from the UC Irvine main campus. The Arboretum features plants and communities from the California Floristic Province and has an extensive collection of South African plants.
HISTORY
In the late 1960s, less than a half-decade after UC Irvine became a part of the UC system, the UCI Arboretum was used by the School of Biological Sciences as a plant growing facility for research and teaching purposes. The Arboretum is administered by and is a facility of the School of Biological Sciences.
CURRENT
Since its early days in the 1970’s, the Arboretum has shifted from its initial focus on South African plants and to include a broad diversity of habitats representative of the California Floristic Province. These include exhibits of Baja California, California Channel Islands including those near Baja California, California Native Grasslands and Wildflowers, Maritime Succulent Scrub, Mojave Desert, Southern Maritime Chaparral, Otay Mesa, and Oak Woodland.
FUTURE
Like many botanic gardens, the UCI Arboretum is concerned with the conservation of rare and endangered species, and we grow a number of rare, threatened and endangered species both for our displays and genetic conservation as vouchered living material.
RESEARCH
As a part of the School of Biological Sciences, the Arboretum hosts a diversity of research projects, including undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and post-doctoral scholars. Please contact the Arboretum’s Faculty Adviser or Collections Manager to inquire about research at the Arboretum.
VISITING
Due to COVID-19, effective immediately the UCI Arboretum will be closed until further notice.
We are located on north campus near the intersection of Jamboree Drive and Campus drive in Irvine. View our location on the interactive campus map.
CONTACT
Dr. Peter A. Bowler, Faculty Adviser (pabowler@uci.edu)
Rebecca Crowe, Collections Manager (rcrowe@uci.edu)