University of Kentucky Arboretum

The University of Kentucky Arboretum is a 100-acre botanical garden on campus featuring native plants, cultivated gardens, and learning spaces throughout the grounds. The layout guides visitors through different planted areas that showcase both wild and ornamental plant collections.

The arboretum opened in 1991 after transforming land covered with invasive plant species into an organized botanical space. Ongoing restoration work has shaped the grounds into the mature garden seen today.

Seven distinct physiographic regions of Kentucky are represented in the Walk Across Kentucky trail, displaying the state's botanical diversity in organized sections.

The grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset for visitors to explore at their own pace. The visitor center operates on a limited schedule, so plan accordingly if you want to access services or educational information.

The Walk Across Kentucky trail compresses the state's seven different ecological zones into one pathway that visitors can explore. This route reveals how plant communities change across the region without having to travel far from the garden.

Location: Kentucky

GPS coordinates: 38.01472,-84.50389

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:02