Dr. Thomas S. Elias, Director
Ms. Allison Opicka, Administrative and Marketing Manager
Dr. John Hammond, Research Leader, Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit
Mr. Scott Aker, Unit Leader, Gardens
Ms. Nancy Luria, Unit Leader, Education and Visitor Services
Establishment
Established in 1927 by an Act of Congress. The Arboretum is administered by
the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service.
Mission
To serve the public need for scientific research, education, and gardens that
conserve and showcase plants to enhance the environment.
Location
Northeast Washington, DC, with entrances on New York Avenue and R Street. There
are research locations in Washington, DC; Glenn Dale, Maryland; Beltsville,
Maryland; and McMinnville, Tennessee.
Size
446 acres with 9.5 miles of winding roadways.
Annual Visitation
500,000 to 600,000
Budget
Federal Appropriation
FY 06: $12,800,000
Support Organizations
Friends of the National Arboretum, Garden Club of America, Herb Society of America,
National Bonsai Foundation, National Capital Area Federation of Garden Clubs,
Inc., National Capital Orchid Society, National Garden Clubs, Inc., Society
of American Florists, and Woman’s National Farm & Garden Association.
Staff
99
Volunteers
Over 150, working in all areas of the Arboretum.
Interns
Internship positions are in horticulture, research, education, facilities management,
and public garden administration and are supported by non-profit organizations,
and privately donated funds.
Research
Wide-ranging basic and developmental research on trees, shrubs, turf, and floral
plants. Development of new technologies for the floral and nursery industries.
Development of plants with superior characteristics through a program of testing
and genetic improvement. Development of new methods of pest and disease detection
and control. Taxonomy and nomenclature of ornamental plants and their wild relatives.
Collection and preservation of plant germplasm with ornamental potential.
Gardens
Single-genus groupings include: azalea, boxwood, daffodil, daylily, dogwood,
holly, magnolia, maple, and peony. Major garden features include: aquatic plants,
the Asian Collections, the Fern Valley Native Plant Collections, the Flowering
Tree Collection, the Flowering Tree Walk, the Friendship Garden, the Gotelli
Dwarf and Slow-Growing Conifer Collection, the Introduction Garden, the National
Bonsai & Penjing Museum, the National Capitol Columns, the National Grove
of State Trees, and the National Herb Garden.
Education
Public education programs, including symposia, lectures, workshops, and demonstrations;
plant, flower, and art exhibitions; interpretive brochures and signs; group
tours; public relations.
Publications
Over 130 scientific articles in professional and trade journals in the last
3 years. Various program aids for visitors. Eight publications in the National
Arboretum Contribution series.
Plant Introductions
678 official plant releases. Eight patents and two EPA biopesticide registrations.
Cooperative Programs
Agdia, Inc., Iowa State University, Michigan State University, North Carolina
State University, Oregon State University, Tennessee State University, University
of California, University of Florida, University of Maine, University of Maryland,
University of Missouri, University of Tennessee, University of Wisconsin, and
Holden Arboretum, Mentor, Ohio.
International Cooperative
Programs
Austria, Israel, Japan, People’s Republic of China, Russia, South Africa,
South Korea, Taiwan, and Ukraine.
Herbarium
Established around 1900 as the Economic Botany Herbarium of the U.S. Department
of Agriculture. Permanent reference collection of over 650,000 specimens of dried
pressed plants for scientific studies in agriculture, horticulture, botany, medicine,
and other related fields. Contains plants from around the world, with a special emphasis
on cultivated plants. Especially well represented groups include azaleas (Rhododendron),
cherries (Prunus), daffodils (Narcissus), daylilies (Hemerocallis),
hollies (Ilex), oaks (Quercus), viburnums (Viburnum), and willows (Salix).
Library
10,000 volumes and approximately 90 publications concentrating in botanical
literature. Affiliated with the National Agricultural Library.
U.S. National Arboretum Strategic Plan 2
The 2003 Strategic Plan 2 for the U.S. National Arboretum is based on the first strategic plan developed in 1995.
The plan helps inform programmatic development over a five- to ten-year period. The plan also serves as a guide for
strengthening and improving the U.S. National Arboretum overall, and is a tool for future planning.
Download the U.S. National Arboretum Strategic Plan 2 (PDF: 304 K).
U.S. National Arboretum Master Plan Introduction
Introduction to the U.S. National Arboretum Master Plan, which responds to the goals outlined in the Strategic Plan 2.
Download the U.S. National Arboretum Master Plan Introduction (PDF: 33 K).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Download the Fast Facts Sheet (PDF: 74 K)
Last Updated October 16, 2007 10:10 AM
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