Lilac Sunday at Arnold Arboretum 2024

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Venue:	Arnold Arboretum
Dates:	Sunday, May 12, 2024 - Sunday, May 12, 2024
Hours:	10:00m - 3:00pm
In/Outdoor:	Outdoor
Cost:	Free
Category:	Seasonal Fun

lilac sunday at arnold arboretum 2024 photo

This beloved Boston tradition celebrates the lilacs as well as many other special collections at their peak at this lovely time of year. Come celebrate spring at the Arnold Arboretum in 2024.

Experience the springtime bloom of our renowned collection of over 400 lilacs from around the world and enjoy tours with Arboretum experts, hands-on children’s activities, and more.

Pack a picnic and make your way to the lilac collection on Bussey Hill Road.

Of the thousands of flowering plants in the Arboretum, only one, the lilac, is singled out each year for a daylong celebration.

Mainly located on the edge of Bussey Hill Road in the heart of the landscape, the lilac collection at the Arnold Arboretum is among the premier collections of these plants in North America. Lilac Sunday has been celebrated at the Arnold Arboretum since 1908.

Lilac Collection
With 408 lilac plants representing 179 taxa (kinds), the Arboretum holds one of the premier lilac collections in North America. Lilac Sunday has been celebrated at the Arnold Arboretum since 1908.

Self-Guided Lilac Tour
Signs in the landscape feature specific lilacs to reveal the amazing diversity of this special collection. Print a Self-Guided Lilac Tour.

Expeditions Mobile App
Access the lilac tour—as well as over 60 additional plants and areas—on the our mobile app, Expeditions. The app is available in English, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese/Mandarin. You can access Expeditions through your smartphone’s internet browser or download the app from the Apple App store and the Google Play store.

Explore on Your Own
Conifer Path showcases the diversity of coniferous plants from temperate regions around the world including the dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) and golden larch (Pseudolarix amabilis).

The Malus Collection (apples/crabapples) on Peters Hill bloom in white and shades of red ranging from pale pink to deep purplish rose creating a spectacular display among our 445 plants in this collection.

Rhododendron Dell at the foot of Hemlock Hill is a contemplative landscape showcasing the Arboretum’s core collection of hybrid and evergreen rhododendrons.

Current Guidelines for Visiting

Parking:
Street parking along the Arboretum perimeter is limited. Visitors are advised to take public transportation. No unauthorized vehicles are allowed within the gates on weekends.

Traffic can move through this area, though there are route changes and possibly restrictions.

Street parking along the Arboretum perimeter is limited. Visitors are advised to take public transportation. No unauthorized vehicles are allowed within the gates on weekends.

Accessibility Parking:
Some parking spaces outside the gates are designated for special-needs visitors.

A limited number of wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis at information tents in three locations: in front of the Hunnewell Visitor Center, inside the Forest Hills Gate, and inside the Centre Street Gate. They may not be reserved in advance.

WEBSITE

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arboretum.harvard.edu/stories/celebrate-lilacs-at-the-arboretum-on-lilac-sunday/

LOCATION

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125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain, MA map
Phone: (617) 384-5209

REVIEWS

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Great day at the Arboretum

The morris dancing was great. Seemed like everyone had fun. Was warm when sun came out. Great time for family.