Dominion Arboretum

The Dominion Arboretum, established in 1886 as part of the Central Experimental Farm, commenced its operations as an agro-forestry station. It is Canada’s oldest arboretum and forms part of the Central Experimental Farm, a National Historic Site. Its primary objective was to assess the resilience of European, Asian, Western, and Southern North American species, as well as their suitability for agroforestry applications, such as windbreaks, shelterbelts, and hedgerows. By 1900, the arboretum’s collections had amassed approximately 3,000 trees and woody plants.

Today, the Arboretum encompasses approximately 26 hectares (64 acres) and harbours over 4,000 distinct species and varieties of trees and shrubs, some of which predate its establishment. During the 1930s to 1940s, the Dominion Arboretum served as a breeding ground for ornamental plants. Notably, we are actively engaged in developing resilient crab apples, lilacs, wegelia, and imitation oranges.

The Central Experimental Farm was granted national historic status in 1998, along with all of the legislative protection that comes with it.

One of the most distinguishing features of the Dominion Arboretum in Ottawa is its distinctive microclimate, which facilitates the flourishing of a diverse array of plant species beyond the conventional limits of the region’s climate zone. While Ottawa is generally categorized as Zone 5a, the arboretum’s diverse topography and proximity to water bodies generate warmer microclimates, facilitating the successful cultivation of species such as magnolias, azaleas, and even the rare dawn redwood (Metasequoia)—trees that are uncommon in this latitude.

Today, the Dominion Arboretum stands as a renowned tourist destination, attracting approximately 175,000 visitors annually. Beyond its botanical significance, the Arboretum provides scenic walking trails, expansive overlooks of the Rideau Canal and Dow’s Lake, and seasonal attractions such as the vibrant blooms of magnolias and lilacs. Its harmonious fusion of scientific heritage, horticultural diversity, and natural splendour elevates it to prominence as a unique destination within Ottawa.