NC State University is famous for the diversity
of its woody ornamental plants and its many
unique plant collections. Discover over 6,500
The mission of the JC Raulston Arboretum is to
introduce, display, and promote plants that diversify the
American landscape, thereby benefiting our communities
economically, environmentally, and aesthetically, as well
as provide educational experiences to the general public,
students of all ages, and the green industry.
different kinds of plants collected from
around the world on display in just ten acres
of beautiful garden settings. The JCRA is a
teaching and research facility for students, the
green industry, and the public. It is named in
honor of its late director and founder, Dr. J. C.
Raulston, renowned plantsman and professor
of horticultural science at NC State. Take time
to visit and return as often as you like. You’ll
Guidelines for Your Visit
•P
lease respect the gardens. Do not pick or remove anything
from the Arboretum and please stay on the paths.
•P
ets are not allowed, except service dogs.
• Smoking is not permitted in or within 25 feet of a building.
•P
lease supervise your children for their safety and the
welfare of our plants.
•P
lease use the trash receptacles and recycling bins.
•N
o bicycling, skating, skateboarding, or roller-blading.
•P
hotographers are welcome, but please do not move the
benches or labels, stage children in the plantings or trees,
or block pathways with equipment.
find something different and exciting each
time.
Join Today
Membership gifts are the most important source
of operational revenue for the JCRA. Friends of
the Arboretum (FOA) enjoy exclusive membersonly discounts while supporting and growing the
gardens.
Member Benefits Highlights:
•F
ree plants each fall at the Annual Plant
Distribution
• Admission to Members-only Preview Plant Sale
• Free admission to FOA Lectures and discounted
registration fees to many JCRA programs and events
•D
iscounts and special offers from local businesses,
including many garden centers.
• Newsletters and electronic communications
•R
eciprocal privileges at over 200 gardens and arboreta
Become a Friend of the Arboretum. Complete a
membership application or visit http://jcra.ncsu.edu/
join. Our membership coordinator will be happy to help
and be reached at (919) 513-7004.
Admission: Free. Public is welcome to visit.
Hours: Open seven days a week, including holidays.
The Arboretum is closed for certain special events.
Grounds:
April-October: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm
November-March: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Ruby C. McSwain Education Center:
Monday-Friday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Closed weekends and holidays.
Arboretum Visitor Center:
Hours of operation are posted on the door.
Accessibility: We are continually working to
improve accessibility. Wheelchairs can access
the McSwain Education Center, Wilder Visitor
Center, A. E. Finley Rooftop Terrace, and The
Necessary. The paths throughout much of the
JCRA are not paved but are partially accessible,
ground conditions permitting.
Tours: Join one of the free guided tours each
Sunday at 2:00 pm from March through October.
Guided tours are available year-round when
arranged one month in advance. Self-guided tours
are always available from our brochure stands.
Volunteering: Many different volunteering
opportunities are available. Contact our volunteer
coordinator at (919) 513-7004.
Facilities Rental: The JCRA offers a variety of options
for hosting group events, meetings, conferences, and special
parties. Contact our facilities coordinator at (919) 513-7457.
JC Raulston Arboretum
NC State University
Campus Box 7522
Raleigh, NC 27695-7522
Phone: (919) 515-3132
jcra.ncsu.edu
Visitor Guide
we! The JC Raulston Arboretum (JCRA) at
Our Mission
location
welcome
Do you have a passion for plants? Well, so do
The JC Raulston Arboretum
Collections and Gardens
discover
The JC Raulston Arboretum (JCRA) is a nationally
acclaimed garden dedicated to promoting a greater
diversity of better-adapted landscape plants. It has
one of the largest and most diverse collection of
landscape plants in the southeast United States.
Plants are evaluated for their landscape potential,
and superior plants are identified and promoted in
cooperation with the nursery industry.
Plant collections are the foundation of the JCRA.
Some of the collections are the most comprehensive,
in the Southeast, the United States, or even the
world. Currently, there are over 6,500 different
kinds of plants (taxa) in the Arboretum’s living
collection. Important woody plant collections include:
boxwoods, maples, oaks, snowbells, aucuba, and
ornamental conifers. The JCRA is a North American
Plant Collections Consortium redbud and magnolia
collection holder. The Color Trials area is one of the
official All-America Selections testing sites for new
cultivars of bedding plants.
RESTROOMS
PARKING
W DRINKING FOUNTAIN
i INFORMATION
E HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE
P
Monocot
Garden
1 Ruby C. McSwain Education
HARD SURFACE PATH
UNPAVED
X
Emergency button on pole between
Education Center and Visitor Center
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: 7b (5°F to 10°F)
2
Dwarf
Conifers
Color Trials
13
Finley-Nottingham
Rose Garden
Plantsmen’s
Woods
Oak Grove
9
Finley Rooftop Terrace
3 A.E.
10
4
11
5
14
(future site)
12
is a place to enjoy the gardens and
the view from atop the Ruby C.
McSwain Education Center.
Geophyte
Border contains
plants with underground storage
organs, such as bulbs, corms,
tubers, and rhizomes.
Southall
Garden is dedicated
to the memory of NC State
horticulture professor Dr. Russell
Southall, who taught plant
materials from 1966 to 1978.
White Garden
6 Klein-Pringle
is an elegant, formal garden
inspired by the White Garden at
Sissinghurst in Kent, England.
11 Mixed Border
anytime of the year. This area
showcases plants that are dazzling
on winter days.
Conifer
Collection showcases
the tremendous diversity
of conifers adaptable to the
Southeast.
Perennial
Border is a mosaic
of herbaceous perennials, shrubs,
grasses, and bulbs with spectacular
color and texture year-round.
Model
Gardens showcase a
Water Garden, Reading Garden,
Townhouse Garden, Butterfly
Garden, and Paradise Garden.
Mixed
Border is composed
of trees, shrubs, ground covers,
perennials, and bulbs. Follow a
winding path through a series of
charming vignettes.
Rose
12 Finley-Nottingham
15
Perennial Border
7 Winter Garden
16
17
year to “Stop and Smell the Roses”,
when the rose garden opens in its
new location.
Garden and Scree
18 Xeric
Garden are home to an eclectic
variety of plants that are drought
tolerant and native to climates
such as South Africa, Mexico, and
the southwestern U.S.
Ruby
C. McSwain 18 Xeric Garden
Education Center
1
9
Klein-Pringle
Japanese Garden
Geophyte Border 4
6 White Garden
Gathering Lawn
Scree Garden
i W EX
A.E. Finley 3
Rooftop Terrace
Geothermal
Wells Lawn
Bobby G. Wilder
2
Visitor Center
8 Conifer Collection
i W EX
5 Southall Garden
Boxwood Collection
Beryl Road
15
Garden Celebrate 2015, JCRA’s
16
EX
14
America Selections testing site
for evaluating and displaying new
cultivars of bedding plants during
summer and winter months.
Plantsmen’s
Woods is a mix of
shade trees and understory plants
from around the world that will
ultimately form a shady haven for
American, European, and Asian
plants.
Lath
House has some of the
newest plants arriving at the
JCRA. It provides the shelter many
new plants require before they are
ready to be moved to other areas.
Japanese
Garden is an area to
relax and enjoy quiet contemplation
while gazing across a sea of raked
stones.
Asian
Valley has species from
Asia that are new to cultivation
and novel selections introduced by
plant collectors and breeders.
17 Asian Valley
Great Lawn
The
Necessary
13 Color
Trials are an official All
Lath House
10 Model Gardens
Elm Circle
7 Winter
Garden is superb
8
visit. Pick up a map, brochures, or
a self-guided tour. Restrooms are
available.
Bee Hives
Dwarf
Loblolly
Pine Grove
Center houses a visitor desk,
the York Auditorium, event
rooms, the volunteer office,
staff offices, and the state
headquarters of the Garden
Club of North Carolina.
Bobby
G. Wilder Visitor
Center is the place to start your
Swindell
Contemplation Garden
Pedestrian Entrance
P
0
N
Main Entrance
50′