Arboretum and Botanical Garden

The jewel of University of Idaho’s lush, landscaped campus is the 63-acre U of I Arboretum and Botanical Garden, nestled in the scenic valley just south of the President's Residence on Nez Perce Drive. This living museum features both native and introduced plant species, curated to thrive in the Inland Pacific Northwest.

The arboreta serve as reference collections and educational facilities, emphasizing plant diversity and origin. The highest priority is to develop and maintain a broad array of cultivars and species, supporting academic research and public engagement.

Goals of the arboreta include:  

• Serve as an outdoor classroom for botany, horticulture, forestry, landscape architecture and environmental sciences.
• Support research in plant hardiness, systematics and hybridization.
• Offer public education through tours, lectures and field trips.
• Provide a peaceful and inspiring environment to explore the value and beauty of plants.

Visit the Arboretums and Botanical Gardens

• Location: 1200 West Palouse River Drive
• Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk
• Admission: Free
• Parking: Free parking is available at the south end of the Arboretum (1200 W. Palouse River Dr.). Limited parking is also available at the U of I Golf Course lot at 1215 Nez Perce Dr.
• Driving directions: The easiest driving access to the Arboretum is the south entrance on Palouse River Drive. The south lot is approximately 1.5 miles west of the stoplight on Highway 95.  
• Restrooms: Portable restroom available at the south end barn. Public restrooms are also at the golf course clubhouse (north end).

Arboretum tours

Explore on your own

The main gravel road loop around the Arboretum is approximately 1.4 miles of gradual declines and inclines. Short distances from the paths are benches where visitors can relax and enjoy the scenery. There are also several trails leading off of the road to spectacular views over the Arboretum and surrounding landscapes, clear to the Blue Mountains of Oregon.  

Note: The gravel surface and some steep slopes can make the loop challenging for anyone with disabilities.

Guided tours

To schedule a personal, public school or educational program tour, contact the Arboretum staff at arboretum@uidaho.edu or 208-885-5978.

We request a few days advance notice of desired tour dates to assure the availability of a great experience.

Stay connected

Catch up on the latest news, events and projects in our annual newsletter, ArborNotes. Read the current issue below.

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Contact us

For question or concerns regarding the Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, contact arboretum@uidaho.edu.

Brief history of the Arboreta

The idea for the Arboretum began in the 1970s with a group of University of Idaho professors who were concerned about the limited plant diversity on campus. Their vision — to create a new arboretum — was enthusiastically supported by then-University President Ernest Hartung.

At the time, the land south of the President’s Residence was largely undeveloped and treeless, with the exception of the north end, which served as a driving range for the golf course. With support from the U of I Foundation, the site was dedicated to Arboretum development and funding was secured to develop a Master Plan for the Arboretum, which was approved in 1980.

The first trees were planted on Easter Sunday in 1982 by members of the Moscow Rotary Club. A guiding principle from the start was that no university funds would be used for the plant collections — a principle that is still being upheld today. All of the plantings and other assets in the Arboretum have been donated as gifts to the university and continues to be the only way to add to the site.

In 1987, Richard Naskali, Ph.D., was appointed the Arboretum’s first full-time director. During his tenure through 2003, Naskali played a key role in developing the foundation of the Arboretum’s living collection, focusing on ornamental species and cultivars organized by their geographic origin.