The Gotelli Dwarf and Slow-Growing Conifer Collection boasts 7 stunning acres of horticultural beauty at the U.S. National Arboretum. Originally located on the property of William Gotelli in New Jersey, the core of the collection was donated to the Arboretum in 1962. It is now one of the most comprehensive collections of dwarf conifers in the world.

As you approach the collection, you will be awe-struck by the dramatic landscape laid out before you. Hundreds of conifers in many shapes, sizes, and colors grace the slopes with splendor while also providing an excellent backdrop for many companion plants. Japanese maples, crapemyrtles, and ornamental grasses complement the shades and textures of the conifers by adding delightful flowers and architectural features to the display.

This unique setting allows you the opportunity to observe the plants' many distinguishing characteristics or to simply enjoy the peaceful surroundings. A gazebo rests atop the hill overlooking the collection while numerous benches dot the grassy paths below; both provide wonderful vistas for respite and contemplation. A small pond highlights one of the many intriguing conifers found in the collection—bald cypress, Taxodium distichum, whose knobby "knees" rise mysteriously out of the water’s surface.

Genetic differences are what create the amazing diversity you see throughout the Gotelli Collection. While one plant may be short and stubby, its neighbor reaches straight and tall toward the sky. Another specimen's blue needles create a cooling effect to the eye, yet just around the bend, a vibrant, yellow conifer jumps out of the landscape like a beam of light. The result is a fascinating array of over 1,400 trees, shrubs, and perennials that will draw you back again and again.

Take a virtual tour through the Gotelli Collection and discover what makes this one of the premier collections of conifers in the world.

  Go back to the USNA Virtual Tours Introduction page.