Quick Facts
The Botanic Garden Collection
- 1,200 types of woody trees and shrubs
- 2,200 types of hardy herbaceous plants
- 3,200 types of tender herbaceous and woody plants in greenhouses
- 6,600 different kinds of plants, with altogether approximately 9,000 total on campus
Lyman Conservatory
- Size: 12,000 square feet
- Age: Various glasshouses date from 1895, 1901, 1952, and 1981
- Average temperature: Varies by house, with minimum of 50°F (10°C) in coolest house and 70°F (21°C) in Palm House, and a summer maximum of over 100°F (38°C) in all greenhouses, even with shading and hosing down!
- Heating: Low-pressure steam
- Irrigation: Hand watering
Campus Arboretum & Gardens
Botanic Garden staff members have responsibility for all campus trees and shrubs; all named gardens, including Capen Garden and Trudy’s Garden (at the Alumnae House), and the plantings surrounding all campus buildings and infrastructure.
- Size: 127 acres
- Location: Northampton, Massachusetts
- latitude: 42° 19' N longitude: 72° 38' W altitude: 61 m (190 feet)
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a/5b
- Meteorological data:
- Average annual precipitation: 1092 mm (43 inches)
- Absolute maximum temperature: 38°C (100°F)
- Absolute minimum temperature: minus 30°C (minus 22°F)
- Average annual temperature: 9.1°C (48°F)
- Average monthly temperature: Jan., minus 4.8°C (23°F) Feb., minus 3.2°C (26°F) Mar., 1.7°C (35°F) Apr., 8.3°C (47°F) May, 14.0°C (57°F) June, 19.2°C (67°F) July, 22.0°C (72°F)Aug., 20.8°C (69°F) Sept., 16.7°C (62°F) Oct., 11.3°C (52°F) Nov., 4.9°C (41°F) Dec., minus 2.4°C (28°F)
Awards and Recognition
- Tree Campus USA
- Level III Accredited Arboretum
- Yankee Magazine Editor's Choice — Best of New England Travel 2015
- Historic Preservation Award for the restoration of the Lyman Conservatory given by the Northampton Historical Commission (2003)
- Listed among 50 Most Amazing University Botanical Gardens and Arboretums in the U.S. (2015)
- #1 of 26 things to do in Northampton, MA, as rated by TripAdvisor
- #29 of 50 Most Stunning University Gardens and Arboretums (2017)
I come to enjoy and respect the work of the Botanic Garden more every year. The outdoor gardens are lovely and substantive. The Lyman Conservatory is packed with interesting plants and the shows each spring and fall are spectacular. The staff is wonderful. It is the ideal small Botanic Garden packed with opportunities to learn about horticulture and beautiful too.
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