Arboretum History
Arboretum History
Scenic concrete bridge crosses over a river in a wooded area. The surrounding trees have orange and dark red leaves, hinting that it is autumn.

The World of Trees Collection

The World of Trees Flying Fish Bridge, 2020

During the late Paleozoic era to early Mesozoic era, a single supercontinent stretched across the Earth. This continent was covered by a single forest. When the continents began to drift and separate, the forest was divided. As a result, the temperate woody plants evolved into different variations based on their new climates.

The World of Trees is a synoptic collection because it provides a general overview of the woody plants that can be cultivated and displayed in the northern hemisphere. This allows visitors to see and better understand the relationships and diversity among global plant families and their North American and Eurasian taxa (species, subspecies and regional varieties). To stay true to its purpose, the World of Trees Collection exhibits species in their natural state, excluding cultivated varieties (cultivars) that have been bred by humans.

Individual plants are arranged by taxonomic relationship to one another, with consideration to habitat preference and aesthetic experience. The result is a rare opportunity to make side-by-side comparisons of plants that are closely related but geographically segregated in the wild.

To learn more about the World of Trees Collection, visit the World of Trees Collection page on The Arboretum’s main website.

Several people walk down a gravel trail in the middle of a yellow, field. Several saplings with no leaves are planted on either side of the trail.

People walk through the World of Trees Collection, 1991.

Bright orange flowers are in the foreground. In the background, there are several trees covered in purple, lavender, and white lilacs.

Lilac trees in the World of Trees Collection, 1995.

Snow thaws, revealing spots of brown grass in a field. There are maple trees and conifers in the field.

Spring thaw in the World of Trees.

A dirt trail leads towards a small bridge. There is green grass and large trees with green leaves on either side of the trail.

World of Trees Flying Fish Bridge, 2003.

A tree with a placard is planted in a green field.

Eastern Burning-bush (Euonymus atropurpureus), a rare species native to Ontario, seen in the World of Trees Collection, 2011.

Bright pink flowers bloom on a tree. Some flowers have fallen below the tree, onto the green grass.

Redbuds blooms with bright pink flowers in the World of Trees Collection, 2013.

Scenic concrete bridge crosses over a river in a wooded area. The surrounding trees have orange and dark red leaves, hinting that it is autumn.

The World of Trees Flying Fish Bridge, 2020.

The land where The Arboretum now grows has been home to plants and animals for thousands of years. It was home to Indigenous peoples before settlers arrived. We recognize the Dish with One Spoon territory, the treaty lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Between the Lakes Treaty 3 lands on which the University of Guelph and The Arboretum now sit. We are honoured to work on and care for this land.