The following special feature was submitted by Justine Richardson, Director and Alison Morrison, Arboretum Manager, University of Guelph Arboretum.
The University of Guelph Arboretum’s Maple Collection has been at the heart of our living museum of trees for more than 50 years. Established in 1971 as the Arboretum’s very first botanical collection, it reflects our long-standing commitment to documenting, studying, and celebrating the diversity of the genus Acer. Today, it remains one of more than 40 curated woody plant demonstrations that support research, teaching, conservation, and public engagement here at the Arboretum.
Over these past 50 years, our understanding of which maples are best suited to Southern Ontario landscapes has evolved, along with our knowledge of invasive species, climate resilience, and the diversity of cultivated selections. As a result, the University of Guelph Arboretum is undertaking a comprehensive curatorial review of the Maple Collection to ensure it continues to represent the best of the genus Acer for conservation, education, and horticulture.
This work includes evaluating every individual tree accessioned into our collection, improving documentation, creating targeted plant care plans, and removing some accessions now recognized as invasive. At the same time, we are introducing carefully selected native cultivars, additional species, and other noteworthy members of the maple family to better showcase the breadth and diversity of Acer.
As a living collection, the Maple Collection will continue to grow and evolve. While many of these changes will unfold gradually over the coming years and decades, they reflect the ongoing stewardship required to maintain a collection that is botanically relevant, scientifically valuable, and ecologically meaningful. By cultivating a diverse range of maple species and selections, the Arboretum helps demonstrate the important role maples play in supporting biodiversity, building resilient urban forests, and inspiring future generations of tree stewards. We look forward to sharing this next chapter with maple enthusiasts as the collection continues to grow and evolve.
Readers can visit the Maple Collection at The Arboretum in Guelph, which is free and open to the public 365 days a year. Find out more at arboretum.uoguelph.ca.
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