Scott Arboretum Garden

The Scott Arboretum is located in and around the Swarthmore College ('Swat') campus. It was established in as a memorial to Arthur Hoyt Scott and gives the college a gardenesque character. This includes a large rose garden which suplies graduates with a rose to wear.

Head Gardener's Comment

The Scott Arboretum, the 300-plus acre campus of Swarthmore College, exhibits over 4,000 kinds of ornamental plants, displaying the best trees, shrubs, vines, and perennials for the region. Established in 1929 as a living memorial to Arthur Hoyt Scott through a bequest from Mr. Scott's family, the mission of the Arboretum is to display plants suited for home gardens and to educate the public.

The Arboretum's gardens are uniquely set amidst a busy college campus. While pursuing its mission, the Arboretum has integrated the everyday needs of the college community with its plantings.

An active membership group, the Associates support the Arboretum's various educational programs with both funds and volunteer assistance. The Associates, in return, are offered various membership benefits including: lectures, trips, tour, workshops, and a variety of special events. These events include: Winter Celebration, Member's Plant Exchange and Sale, a summer concert series "Evenings in the Arboretum", Spring and Fall Festivals, an Arbor Day Celebration, and their renowned biennial Plant Sale.

The Arboretum also has collaborative efforts with sister institutions and plant societies. The annual Woody Plant Conference (www.woodyplantconference.org) and Perennial Plant Conference are efforts with six other gardening institutions. These conferences teach 300 to 600 industry professional and home gardeners at each conference a year about these diverse plants.

The Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College, is a garden of ideas and suggestions exhibiting over 4,000 kinds of ornamental plants.