Nebraska Statewide Arboretum

Nebraska Statewide Arboretum
The grounds surrounding the Joslyn Castle, part of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum
Established1978
Administered byUniversity of Nebraska–Lincoln
Sites110
WebsiteOfficial website

The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum (NSA) is a network of arboreta, botanical gardens, parks, and other public landscapes across Nebraska. The NSA, headquartered at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, administers 110 sites across the state.

History

The arboretum was founded in 1978 as a partnership with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and is an affiliate of the Center for Plant Conservation.[1][2] It is supported by the arboretum office at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Along with the Nebraska Forest Service, the Nebraska State Arboretum works to reintroduce native plants to each region of the state.[3] The NSA offers to reimburse fifty percent of the cost of projects designed to add native plants to a community.[3]

In 2024, the NSA completed construction of the Native Plant Production Greenhouse, a greenhouse on NU's East Campus that more than doubled its available plant-growing space.[4] Approximately thirty percent of the project was funded by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, with the rest coming from fundraising efforts and a $10-million United States Forest Service grant to care for tree planting, removal, and maintenance across Nebraska.[4]

Sites

The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum administers 110 accredited sites across the state.[4] Its larger collections include sites at Omaha's Metropolitan Community College at Fort Omaha, Joslyn Castle, Swanson Science Park, the Blair Community Arboretum (Steyer Park, Black Elk Park, and the Dana College campus), Gilman Park Arboretum in Pierce, the Joshua Turner Arboretum at Union Adventist University in Lincoln, and Clemmons Park Arboretum in Fremont.[2]

Arboretums

Landscape stewards

Events

The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum promotes and sells native plants as part of a goal to create environmentally sustainable landscapes across the state.[2] The Spring Affair, hosted annually at the Lancaster Event Center as the first plant sale of the season, is the largest event of its kind in the region.[5] As a nonprofit organization that receives limited state funding, the NSA uses its plant sales as a significant revenue generator.[4]

The NSA hosts "garden walks" at its Lincoln and Omaha sites to educate patrons about horticulture and conservation efforts.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ David J. Wishart (2004). Encyclopedia of the Great Plains. University of Nebraska Press. p. 67. ISBN 978-0-8032-4787-1.
  2. ^ a b c "Who We Are - History". Plant Nebraska. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Morgan Ahlstrom (June 17, 2025). "Nebraska Statewide Arboretum promotes native plants and education". Nebraska TV. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d "Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Builds New Greenhouse, Doubles Production Capacity with Support from DED Shovel-Ready Grant". Nebraska Department of Economic Development. May 28, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  5. ^ "Statewide Arboretum expands spring plant sales". University of Nebraska–Lincoln. April 11, 2025. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  6. ^ Matthew Mittlieder (July 8, 2025). "Nebraska Statewide Arboretum unites plant lovers with garden walks across Lincoln". KOLN. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
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