- Polly Hill Arboretum
- 809 State Road
- West Tisbury MA 02575
- Phone: (508) 693-9426
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UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Check our CALENDAR for this season’s programs, or our 2015 calendar of events
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VISIT
Our grounds are open everyday from sunrise to sunset. Self-guided tour info is located in the parking lot kiosk. Tours by appointments. No dogs please, $5 donation, free for members and children 12 and under.
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SUPPORT THE ARBORETUM
Help support our mission of plant research, education and conservation by becoming a MEMBER or donating today.
Welcome to the Polly Hill Arboretum
Check out our new Plant Selection Guide
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The Polly Hill Arboretum, a Martha’s Vineyard horticultural and botanical landmark, was developed by the legendary horticulturist, Polly Hill (1907-2007). Here in 1958, Polly began an arboretum by sowing a seed, eventually bringing 20 acres under cultivation while preserving 40 additional acres as native woodland. Established in 1998 as a not-for-profit institution the Arboretum is devoted to the cultivation and study of plants and the preservation of the character and magic of this tranquil landscape.
Rare trees and shrubs from around the world are set among stone walls, meadows, and fields, including Polly’s famous North Tisbury azaleas, the national stewartia collection, camellias, hollies, rhododendrons, crabapples, conifers, magnolias, and many more. The kousa dogwood allee, perennial border, monkey puzzle tree, and the Julian Hill magnolia are favorites with visitors.
Education Center and Botany Lab
This year’s Fall Appeal is designated for the construction of our planned Education Center and Botany Lab and donations will be matched dollar for dollar by the Cedar Tree Foundation.
This education center and science facility embodies our mission to the fullest extent. The building will provide the space and equipment to advance our plant research and the climate-controlled indoor environment to extend our education programming year-round. Completing the building also honors the spirit of Polly Hill and David Smith, both who sought to share knowledge about plants through education, research, and plant conservation. Help us make this a reality! Donate Now!
On February 13 we were awarded a Massachusetts Cultural Council Facilities Fund grant of $200,000, which will be generously matched by the Cedar Tree Foundation! The Education Center and Botany Lab is now a reality! Watch for updates on its construction later this year.
Winter Walks
Second Saturday of the month, November thru March
NEXT WALK IS SATURDAY, March 14 – 10am
Every season of the year our landscape offers something of beauty and interest to our visitors. Gorgeous bark patterns and architectural structure become evident as our deciduous trees lose their leaves and our conifers stand out with their many textures and shades of green. Showy fruits and even some flowers add to our winter landscape. Join Arboretum staff on the second Saturday of the month to explore the grounds in the “off-season.” Tours are at 10am and run for a little over an hour. Meet at the Visitor Center and dress for the weather. Tours are free.
Vanishing Acts: Trees Under Threat
March – June 2015
Installation is in progress! Once our snow disappears the exhibit will be open for business!
Vanishing Acts, a traveling outdoor exhibit developed by the Morton Arboretum, is coming to PHA! This exhibit seeks to increase public awareness of the precarious future of the world’s endangered trees. As the forests go, so go the trees. Experts are delivering new warnings that deforestation, plant diseases pests, and climate change are combining to dramatically reduce the amount and health of the world’s forests and trees. Ten percent of all tree species are now threatened with extinction, officials say.
Visitors will embark upon a global journey, exploring compelling tree stores from around the world displayed on 15 panels. Many of the featured trees are planted on the Arboretum grounds.
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