Fay Hyland Botanical Plantation

Fay Hyland Botanical Plantation is a botanical garden on the University of Maine campus that stretches along the Stillwater River. The approximately 10-acre grounds hold collections of woody plants from Maine and other regions around the world.

The plantation was founded in 1934 and named after Professor Fay Hyland, who specialized in woody plant research. Its creation marked an expansion of botanical education at the university.

The garden serves those studying plants and trees through hands-on learning with labeled specimens throughout the grounds. You can observe how education and research happen together in this working landscape.

The garden is located on campus between Heritage House and Lambda Chi Fraternity and is open daily to visitors. Entry is free, and pathways guide you through the grounds along the riverside.

The garden focuses especially on woody plant diversity with extensive labeling that makes learning direct. Many visitors miss that they can encounter rare regional tree species from Maine found nowhere else nearby.