机构概况
特拉华大学植物园（University of Delaware Botanic Gardens，简称UDBG）坐落于美国特拉华州纽瓦克市，隶属于特拉华大学农业与自然资源学院。植物园始建于20世纪50年代，最初在如今的汤森德 Hall 大楼周围种植标本树木和灌木，历经数十年发展，于1992年正式命名为特拉华大学植物园。目前园区占地15英亩，划分为十个主题花园区域，是美国东海岸重要的植物迁地保护与科普教育基地之一。
历史沿革
植物园的发展历程厚重。1973年，Emily B. Clark Garden 在大楼前建立。1992年正式定名为特拉华大学植物园，同时新增草本植物园。1996年，Emily Clark Diffenback 女士慷慨捐赠，创立了以她名字命名的花园区域，主植针叶树和冬青植物。21世纪以来，鳞翅目步道和湿地花园相继落成，为园区增添了丰富的生态多样性。UDBG Friends 志愿者团体逐渐发展成为如今的会员项目，持续为植物园的运营和发展提供支持。
植物收藏
特拉华大学植物园拥有超过3000个分类群（包括种和品种）的活体植物收藏，涵盖来自世界各地的温带植物。重点收藏类群包括冬青属（Ilex）、枫属（Acer）、木兰属（Magnolia）、栎属（Quercus）以及荚莲属（Viburnum）等。园区提供线上植物探索工具 Garden Explorer，访客可查询每株植物的登记年份、学名、俗名、科属及园区位置。植物收藏旨在为学生、专业人士和公众提供比较研究和设计灵感，同时展示植物间的生态关联。
科研与教育
作为特拉华大学的活体实验室，植物园在植物生物学、植物学、昆虫学和景观设计等领域的实验教学中发挥核心作用。学生在此参与草本植物试验和丰富的木本植物收藏管理，获得将课堂知识应用于实践的机会。园区每年举办春季大型植物展销会（Annual Spring Benefit Plant Sale），汇聚行业力量，支持植物园可持续发展。会员项目、捐赠和志愿者服务为植物园的教育推广和科研工作提供重要资金支持。
参观信息
特拉华大学植物园每日开放，开放时间为黎明至黄昏，全年无休。园区免收入场费，停车需付费停车咪表。园区内禁止吸烟、禁止进入花圃、禁止举办婚礼和招待会，摄影和野餐（10人以内）允许。园区距纽瓦克 Amtrak 火车站仅半英里，交通便利。游客可下载园区地图自行游览，亦可预约团队导览服务。
官方网站：https://canr.udel.edu/udbg/
Overview
The University of Delaware Botanic Gardens (UDBG) is located on the campus of the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware, serving as an integral part of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Established in the late 1950s with specimen trees and shrubs planted around what is now Townsend Hall, the gardens were formally named the University of Delaware Botanic Gardens in 1992. Today the gardens span 15 acres across ten distinct garden areas, making them one of the most significant botanical conservation and educational bases on the U.S. East Coast.
History
The garden’s history is rich and layered. The Emily B. Clark Garden was established in front of Townsend Hall in 1973. In 1992, the University of Delaware Botanic Gardens officially adopted its current name and added the Herbaceous Garden. A landmark 1996 donation by Emily Clark Diffenback established the Emily B. Clark Garden, featuring primarily conifers and holly collections. The Lepidoptera Trail and Wetland Garden were introduced in the 2000s, adding significant ecological diversity. The UDBG Friends volunteer organization evolved into today’s membership program, providing ongoing support for garden operations and development.
Plant Collections
UDBG’s living plant collection comprises over 3,000 taxa, including species and cultivars of temperate plants from around the world. The collection’s flagship groups include holly (Ilex), maple (Acer), magnolia (Magnolia), oak (Quercus), and viburnum (Viburnum). The online Garden Explorer tool allows visitors to look up each plant’s accession year, scientific name, common name, family, and location within the gardens. The collections are designed to support comparative study, inspire aesthetic design, and illustrate ecological relationships for students, industry professionals, and the general public.
Research and Education
As a living laboratory for the University of Delaware, UDBG plays a central role in experiential learning across plant biology, botany, entomology, and landscape design disciplines. Students gain hands-on experience managing herbaceous trials and extensive woody plant collections, applying classroom knowledge to real-world horticultural contexts. The gardens host the Annual Spring Benefit Plant Sale, bringing together industry supporters to sustain the gardens’ mission. Memberships, donations, and volunteer programs provide critical funding for educational outreach and research initiatives.
Visiting Information
UDBG is open daily from dawn to dusk, year-round, with free admission and metered parking available. The gardens prohibit smoking, entering planting beds, and hosting weddings or receptions; photography and small-group picnics (under 10 people) are welcome. The gardens are less than half a mile from Newark’s Amtrak station, making them easily accessible by public transit. Visitors can download a self-guided map or arrange group tours through the gardens’ website.
