Arboretum

A journey inside this unique collection is a chance to experience the beauty and diversity of forests around the globe.

Stretching across two-thirds of the Gardens, the Arboretum surrounds our glasshouses in a leafy enclave for you to walk, wander and discover.

The 14,000 trees rooted here represent more than 2,000 species, including rare and ancient varieties. This great collection contains trees as old as the Gardens themselves, many that cannot be found anywhere else in Britain.

Meaning ‘a place with trees’ in Latin, the Arboretum is not only a striking landscape but a scientific treasure trove, vital to our botanical and conservation research.

Every tree planted here is a source of knowledge, helping us conserve the habitats of beloved native trees and protect some of the world’s most fascinating species at risk from deforestation.

Flowers of a Black Locust Tree (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Giant redwoods in Kew's Redwood Grove — Giant redwoods © RBG Kew

Seeds of the chestnut-leaved oak (Quercus castaneifolia), the fastest-growing tree in the Gardens.

Treasured trees

Heritage trees: Some of our oldest trees date back to the 18th century and include the Japanese pagoda tree (Styphnolobium japonicum), the Lucombe oak (Quercus x hispanica 'Lucombeana'), and the black locust tree (Robinia pseudoacacia).
Giant redwoods: Our tallest tree lives in the atmospheric Redwood Grove. A Sequoia sempervirens (a coastal Redwood), it stands at 40 metres tall – the height of a 13-storey building.
Mighty oaks: The fastest growing tree in the Gardens is the chestnut-leaved oak, Quercus castaneifolia measuring over 30m tall and 30m wide. With its many limbs and trunks, this mighty oak is a sight you don’t want to miss.