Coker Arboretum

Coker Arboretum is a botanical garden on the University of North Carolina campus in Chapel Hill featuring walking paths through various planted areas. It displays ornamental shrubs, flowering trees, and collections of plants native to the surrounding region.

A botanist named William Chambers Coker founded this garden in the early decades of the 20th century to research and teach about local plant life. The garden grew from this scientific focus and continues today to share knowledge about regional plant species.

The garden serves as a place where students and visitors encounter plants in their natural groupings and learn how different species relate to their surroundings. The arranged plantings show how vegetation changes through the seasons and how people interact with growing things on campus.

The garden is located within the university campus and welcomes visitors daily who can walk freely through the grounds. The paths are easy to navigate on foot and there is no entrance fee, making it accessible for casual visits anytime.

The garden grows rare plant species such as the Chinese Beautybush, an unusual tree that often catches visitors by surprise. What makes it memorable is how different spring flowers like daffodils, tulips, and azaleas bloom in sequence, continuously reshaping the garden's appearance.

Location: Chapel Hill

GPS coordinates: 35.91375,-79.04905

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:40