• VISIT

      Our grounds are open from sunrise to sunset. A self-guided tour is located in the parking lot kiosk. No dogs please. $5 admission, free for members & children 12 and under.

    • SUPPORT THE ARBORETUM

      Help support our mission of plant research, education & conservation by becoming a member  or donating today.

    • PROGRAMS

      See our programs calendar for upcoming tours, talks, and classes.

    • SUBSCRIBE

      Sign up for email updates on news and programs.

    •  

 

 

Welcome to the Polly Hill Arboretum

 

 

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 nonprofit 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 allée, perennial border, monkey puzzle tree, and the Julian Hill magnolia are favorites with visitors.

 

 

Staff Housing Initiative

As PHA heads toward its 25th year as a public garden, we are celebrating our progress and looking toward a bright future, but that future depends on our ability to hire and retain staff. This project addresses the impact of the Island’s housing crisis on our organization, and will help us attract and retain qualified personnel, which is essential in accomplishing our mission now and in the years ahead.

 

After several years of thoughtful consideration and strategic planning toward solving our housing challenges, we have begun to build staff housing on campus, and we need your support to meet this challenge! We look forward to partnering with our members, supporters, and the Island community to help secure the future of Polly Hill Arboretum.

 

View the staff housing case statement    Donate to the PHA Staff Housing Initiative

Plant Selection Guide

butterfly weedNeed help finding the right plant for your landscape and site conditions? Check out our web-based searchable plant selection guide. Searches are based on site conditions, native region, plant type and plant characteristics. Each category has more detailed options, allowing your search to narrow down plant options for each location. 

Read more about the guide here

Arboretum Explorer

Search for plants in the Arboretum’s collection, view plant locations on an interactive map, and see plant photographs in flower or fruit! This program is both desktop and mobile-friendly, allowing you to access information from your home or with a mobile device while touring the grounds. Plants can be found using the common or scientific name, plant family, country of origin, or location on the Arboretum grounds. Arboretum Explorer has the added benefit of drawing data directly from our collections database, so the information will always remain current. We are eager to hear visitor feedback on this new offering! Click here to open Arboretum Explorer

PEST ALERT 

Beech Leaf Disease (BLD)

This past May, arboretum staff discovered (BLD) Beech Leaf Disease in our collections and natural areas. 

To read more about the disease click here.

 

 

 

PHA Weather Station

Interested in West Tisbury weather information? Polly Hill Arboretum has its own weather sensor! Our sensor, which resides in the Arboretum’s north field, is located to maximize wind and rainfall accuracy. Latitude / Longitude: N 41 ° 23 ‘ 47 ”, W 70 ° 40 ‘ 39 ”  Elevation: 33.  

Click to view our station on Weather Underground.

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