Wellesley College Botanic Gardens

The Wellesley College Botanic Gardens (WCBG) are campus treasures.

The Alexandra Botanic Garden has specimen trees and shrubs from around the world in a picturesqe landscape. A tiny brook winds through the garden from a waterfall to Paramecium Pond. The H. H. Hunnewell Arboretum has several different habitats, including a maple swamp, meadow, and fragments of different forest types, with mostly native species. Other specialized gardens include a green roof planted with native species, a dwarf conifer garden, a butterfly garden, and our Edible Ecosystem Teaching Garden.

To explore the flora of other climates, visit the Margaret C. Ferguson Greenhouses to experience plant life from the deserts of Mexico and Africa to the rainforests of Malaysia and Brazil. Seasonal displays combine with permanent collections to present an ever-changing immersion in the wonderful world of plants. Occasionally there are special shows, for example using theatrical lighting to dramatically illuminate unusual adaptations, ornate flowers, or extraordinary plant architecture. 

See the wonderful article about the greenhouses that appeared in the Winter 2010 issue of Wellesley magazine - click for pdf .

For information about tours and visiting, click "Visit" above or call the Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Gardens office at 781-283-3094.

Follow us:

Photo credits:  Kristina Jones, Gail Kahn, Vivi Leavy, Becky Saunders, David Sommers, Eileen Sprague