Regis Arboretum | Regis University in Denver, Colorado

Thank you for visiting the Arboretum!

An arboretum is a type of botanical garden focused on trees and shrubs. Around the world, arboreta support scientific research and conservation, offer education and community programs, and care for diverse, visually rich collections of trees. The Regis Arboretum is a living library that is open to the public, providing beauty and environmental benefits for our campus community and the surrounding neighborhood.

We hope you can join us on our Denver campus to experience the majesty of our trees firsthand. But if you can't join us in person, please take some time to explore our interactive Arboretum map. The map displays a list of many of our most prominent trees, including common name, genus and species. Many trees also feature photos and in-depth tree stories so you can get to know each individual tree. And, if you know what tree you'd like to see? Our map allows you to search and filter by keyword, and will provide walking directions to specific trees.

Our Champion Trees

A champion tree is recognized as the largest or most impressive of its species in a specific geographical region. The designation is given by the Colorado Tree Coalition and is based on measurements like height, trunk size and crown spread. The Regis Arboretum is home to at least 28 champions that come from within the state of Colorado, but that list changes regularly when trees grow or die, or when new champions are discovered.

American Hornbeam

Amur Chokecherry

Black Oak

Blackjack Oak

Blue Atlas Cedar

Carpathian Walnut

Cedar of Lebanon

Chinese Zelkova

Contorted White Pine

Corneliancherry Dogwood

Cutleaf European Beech

Cutleaf Silver Maple

Hall's Hardy Almond

Heritage River Birch

Jack Pine

Paperbark Maple

Pin Oak

Rivers Purple-leaf Beech

Saucer Magnolia

Sawtooth Oak

Silver Linden

Spike-leafed Maple

Tanyosho Japanese Red Pine

Tricolor Beech

Weeping American Elm

Weeping Blue Spruce

Weeping European Beech

Arboretum History

Started in 2002, the Arboretum at Regis University initially contained only 200 trees. Today, it consists of more than 1,600 trees, 94 genera and more than 410 species or cultivars.

Explore Arboretum History

A History of the Arboretum

The campus arboretum serves not only as a beautiful, naturalistic setting but also as a living chronicle of horticultural commitment and campus development. Its history, traceable through specific planting initiatives and the designation of champion specimens, reveals a collection curated for both regional relevance and global diversity. This legacy was formally recognized in 2000, when the grounds received their official arboretum designation during a dedication ceremony held in conjunction with the Mass of the Holy Spirit in September. The arboretum’s professional standing reached a new pinnacle in 2018 with the granting of official Level II accreditation, cementing its role as a premier site for conservation and education.

The initial phases of the arboretum’s history focused on establishing thematic collections and showcasing both common and rare ornamental trees. Early on, strategic plantings provided aesthetic focal points near major buildings, such as the Ohio Buckeyes and the Corkscrew Willow at St. Peter Claver, S.J., Hall. A deliberate curatorial effort is evident in areas dedicated to regional ecology, like the extensive plantings near the O’Sullivan Fine Arts Building which highlight Colorado natives, including various Pines, Gambel Oak and Serviceberries.

Key historical milestones are marked by construction and transplant efforts, demonstrating the commitment to preserve mature specimens even during expansion. A successful transplanting effort took place in 2003 when four large Norway Spruce trees were carefully relocated near the Resident Village bridge, where they have since flourished. More significantly, the period leading up to the St. John Francis Regis Chapel (SRC) construction in 2005 required the relocation of a grove of large hardwoods, including the Manchurian Chestnut, Carpathian Walnut and European Beech, all of which were successfully moved in 2004, preserving the collection’s botanical heritage amidst structural change.

Today, the arboretum’s reputation is cemented by its impressive array of historically significant and officially designated champion trees. Cultural moments are recorded in plantings like the Japanese White Pine near the Coors Life Directions Center, which carries the distinction of having been planted by the Dalai Lama and Regis' Pat Schlanger. The ongoing commitment to preservation is perhaps best evidenced by the multiple champion trees recognized for their exceptional size, including the state’s largest Sawtooth Oak in the South Boettcher Commons and the noble Weeping American Elm near O’Connell Hall, recognized as a state champion. From the Champion Saucer Magnolia in the Hopkins Garden to every tree and shrub on campus, the arboretum stands as a carefully developed, living record of environmental stewardship and botanical curiosity.

Fast Facts

1600

We estimate that there are at least 1,600 trees on our Denver campus

At least 96 genera are represented in the Arboretum

440

440 different tree species thrive on the Regis campus

Ways to Give

Your donation is vital. It doesn't just help the arboretum flourish; it ensures this beautiful space continues to be enjoyed by generations of visitors. Whether you contribute to our general fund or make a commemorative gift to help plant a new tree, every donation is deeply appreciated and makes a direct impact.

The Arboretum at Regis

Thank you for visiting the Arboretum!

Our Champion Trees

Arboretum History

A History of the Arboretum

Fast Facts

Commemorative Trees

Tree Endowment

Ways to Give

People of the Arboretum

Contact Regis Arboretum

Join Our Community