Forests and trees

The National Arboretum Canberra is home to 94 forests of rare, endangered and symbolic trees from Australia and around the world. Based on a “100 Forests, 100 Gardens” theme, the unique landscape includes species from over 100 different countries and is designed to provide an immersive experience for visitors walking through the forests.

Over 44,000 trees have already been planted on the 250 hectare (618 acre) site. This includes a large immersive collection of Wollemi pines (Wollemia nobilis), as well as three pre-existing forests which survived the 2003 Canberra bushfires:

The Arboretum is dedicated to the growing and understanding of trees and actively supports the conservation of global plant diversity.

Forest number Species Common Name Year planted Country/region of origin Conservation status
1 Quercus suber Forest 1 - Cork Oak 1917 and 1920 Europe (south-western) and North Africa (north-western) Not threatened
2 Local eucalypts and native grasses Forest 2 - Local eucalypts and native grasses 1980s Australia Critically endangered
3 Ficus carica Forest 3 - Common Fig 2009 and 2010 Asia (south-western), Mediterranean (eastern ) Not threatened
4 Aesculus hippocastanum Forest 4 - Horse Chestnut 2009 Balkans Not threatened
5 Melia azedarach 'Caroline' Forest 5 - White Cedar ‘Caroline’ (Australian native) 2012 Australia, Asia (South East ) and Asia (South) Not threatened
6 Albizia julibrissin Forest 6 - Persian Silk Tree 2009 Asia (Southwestern and Eastern) Not threatened
7 Magnolia delavayi Forest 7 - Chinese Evergreen Magnolia 2012 China (southern) Threatened
7 Magnolia grandiflora ‘Exmouth’ Forest 7 - Southern Magnolia 2009 United States of America (southern) Not threatened
8 Cornus kousa Forest 8 - Japanese Flowering Dogwood 2009 Japan, Korea and China Not threatened
9 Liriodendron chinense Forest 9 - Chinese Tulip Tree 2008 China (central and southern) and Vietnam (northern) Near threatened
10 Washingtonia filifera Forest 10 - Californian Fan Palm 2008 United States of America (Southwest USA) and Mexico (Northwest) Near threatened
11 Cedrus deodara Forest 11 - Himalayan Cedar 1917-1930 and September 2010 Hindu Kush-Himalayan region Not threatened
12 Araucaria araucana Forest 12 - Monkey Puzzle 2009 Chile (South-central) and Argentina (west central) Endangered
14 Parrotia persica Forest 14 - Persian Ironwood 2008, 2010 and 2013 Iran (Northern) Not threatened
16 Acer saccharum Forest 16 - Sugar Maple 2009 United States of America (North-eastern North America) Not threatened
17 Prunus x yedoensis Forest 17 - Yoshino Cherry 2008 Japan Not threatened
18 Quercus macrocarpa Forest 18 - Burr Oak 2008 United States of America Not threatened
19 Eucalyptus argophloia Forest 19 - Western Queensland White Gum (Australian native) 2008 Austalia Vulnerable
20 Eucalypts and their woodland/forest environments Forest 20 - Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park (STEP) (Australian native) Australia n/a
21 Quercus engelmannii Forest 21 - Mesa Oak 2007 United States of America (southwest) Mexico Vulnerable
22 Various Forest 22 - Ceremonial Tree Plantings in the Central Valley 2009 ongoing Various countries Various status
23 Araucaria angustifolia Forest 23 - Parana Pine 2011 and 2012 South America Critically endangered
24 Lagerstroemia fauriei ‘Fantasy’ Forest 24 - Japanese Crepe Myrtle 2011 Japan Not endangered
25 Various Forest 25 - Gallery of Gardens 2017, 2018 and 2019 Various countries n/a
26 Jubaea chilensis Forest 26 - Chilean Wine Palm 2012 Chile Vulnerable
27 Ginkgo biloba Forest 27 - Maidenhair Tree 2008 China Endangered
28 Schotia brachypetala Forest 28 - Schotia brachypetala 2011 Africa (Southern) Not threatened
29 Not yet planted Forest 29 - Not yet planted
30 Eucalyptus benthamii Forest 30 - Camden White Gum (Australian native) 2007 and 2008 Australia Threatened
31 Cercis siliquastrum Forest 31 - Mediterranean Redbud 2008 Middle East and Europe (Southern) Not threatened
32 Wollemia nobilis Forest 32 - Wollemi Pine 2007 and 2008 Australia Critically endangered
33 Sequoiadendron giganteum Forest 33 - Giant Sequoia 2008 United States of America (California) Vulnerable
34 Cupressus sempervirens 'Stricta’ Forest 34 - Pencil Pine 2009 Eastern Mediterranean Not threatened
35 Betula nigra Forest 35 - River Birch 2010 United States of America Not threatened
36 Larix decidua Forest 36 - European Larch 2011 Europe Not threatened
37 Not yet planted Forest 37
38 Tilia cordata Forest 38 - Small Leaved Lime 2011 Europe and Asia (West) Not threatened
39 Cedrus libani subspecies libani Forest 39 - Cedar of Lebanon 2011 Eastern Mediterranean Vulnerable
40 Cupressus dupreziana variety atlantica, Cupressus dupreziana variety dupreziana Forest 40 - Moroccan Cypress, Tarout 2008 Northern Africa Threatened
41 Quercus palustris ‘Freefall’ Forest 41 - Pin Oak 2009 Unite States of America (Eastern North America) Australia (Canberra) Not threatened
42 Eucommia ulmoides Forest 42 - Chinese Rubber Tree 2010 China Near Threatened
43 Nyssa sylvatica Forest 43 - Black Tupelo 2008 United States of America (Eastern North America) Not threatened
44 Betula pendula subspecies fontqueri, Host forest Betula pendula subspecies pendula Forest 44 -Spanish Birch, Silver Birch 2008 Spain and Morocco Endangered
45 Luma apiculata Forest 45 - Chilean Myrtle 2011 South America (Chile and Argentina) Not threatened
46 Pinus radiata variety binata Forest 46 - Cedros Island Pine 2010 Cedros Island near Mexico Vulnerable
47 Not yet planted Forest 47 - Not yet planted n/a
48 Callitris oblonga subspecies oblonga Forest 48 - South Esk Pine (Australian native) 2010 Australia (Tasmania) Vulnerable
49 Cotinus ‘Grace’ Forest 49 - Purple-leafed Smokebush 2009 Australia Not threatened
50 Arbutus canariensis Forest 50 - Canary Madrone 2010 Canary Islands Vulnerable
51 Grevillea robusta Forest 51 - Silky Oak 2009 Australia Not Threatened
52 Picea abies Forest 52 - Norway Spruce 2009 Europe Not threatened
53 Platanus orientalis Forest 53 - Oriental Plane 2009 Mediterranean (Eastern) and Middle East Not endangered
54 Metasequoia glyptostroboides Forest 54 - Dawn Redwood 2009 China Endangered
55 Eucalyptus michaeliana Forest 55 - Hillgrove Spotted Gum (Australian native) 2009 Australia Not endangered
56 Pinus pinea Forest 56 - Stone Pine 2009 Mediterranean Not threatened
57 Austrocedrus chilensis Forest 57 - Chilean Cedar 2011 Chile and Argentina Near Threatened
58 Ceiba speciosa Forest 58 - Silk Floss Tree 2011 South America (Southern) Not threatened
59 Butia capitata Forest 59 - Jelly Palm 2011 South America (Southern) Not threatened
60 Pinus radiata, Pinus halepensis Forest 60 - Radiata Pine, Aleppo Pine 2008 Mediterranean (all countries) Not threatened
61 Pinus brutia Forest 61 - Turkish Pine 2010 Mediterranean (Eastern) Not threatened
62 Davidia involucrate Forest 62 - Dove Tree 2012 China Not threatened
63 various Forest 63 - Trial Lot n/a n/a
64 Podocarpus totara, Sophora micropylla Forest 64 - Totara and Kowhai 2010 New Zealand Not threatened
65 Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Forest 65 - Lawson Cypress 2010 United States of America (West) Near Threatened
66 Platycladus orientalis Forest 66 - Chinese Arborvitae 2010 China, Korea and Russia (East) Near Threatened
67 Styrax japonicus Forest 67 - Japanese Snowbell 2011 China, Japan and Korea Not threatened
68 Eucalyptus lacrimans Forest 68 - Weeping Snow Gum (Australian native) 2009 Australia (Snowy Mountains) Threatened
69 Not yet planted Not yet planted n/a
70 Cercis canadensis Forest 70 - Eastern Redbud 2009 America (USA) Not threatened
71 Araucaria bidwillii Forest 71 - Bunya Pine (Australian native) 2009 Australia (Queensland) Not threatened
72 Liquidambar orientalis Forest 72 - Oriental Sweet Gum 2009 Turkey and Island of Rhodes Not threatened
73 Acer buergerianum variety formosanum Acer buergerianum variety buergerianum Forest 73 - Taiwanese Trident Maple, Trident Maple 2009 Taiwan and China (e Critically endangered and Not threatened
74 Populus euphratica Forest 74 - Euphrates Poplar 2011 Africa (North), Asia (Middle East and Central) Not threatened
75 Toona sinensis Forest 75 - Chinese Mahogany 2011 Asia (East and South East ) Not threatened
76 Pinus radiata variety radiata Forest 76 - Radiata Pine 2004 USA (South West Coast) Threatened in the USA
77 Sophora toromiro and Styphnolobium japonicum Forest 77 - Toromiro and Pagoda Tree 2011 Easter Island, NZ and China Rare and Not Threatened
78 Not yet planted Forest 78 - Yet to be planted
79 Brachychiton populneus and Brachychiton rupestris Forest 79 - Kurrajong and Bottle Tree (Australian natives) 2010 Australia (Eastern) Not threatened
80 Fagus sylvatica Forest 80 - European Beech 2009 Europe Not threatened
81 Eucalyptus parvula Forest 81 - Small-leaved Gum (Australian native) 2010 Australia (NSW) Threatened
82 Quercus robur Forest 82 - English Oak 2010 Europe, Northen Africa and Asia (West) Not threatened
83 Nothofagus macrocarpa Forest 83 - Roble de Santiago 2012 Chile Rare
84 Zelkova serrata Forest 84 - Japanese Zelkova 2011 Japan, Korea, China and Russia Not threatened
85 Eucalyptus morrisbyi Forest 85 - Morrisby’s Gum (Australian native) 2011 Australia (Tasmania) Endangered
86 Diospyros lotus Forest 86 - Date Plum 2012 China and Asia (Central) Not threatened
87 Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’ Forest 87 - Callery Pear 2009 China, Taiwan, Korea and Vietnam Not threatened
88 Juglans regia Forest 88 - Persian Walnut 2010 Asia (Middle East and Central) Rare
89 Pseudopanax ferox Forest 89 - Toothed Lancewood 2011 New Zealand Near Threatened
90 Pinus radiata variety binata Forest 90 - Guadalupe Island Pine 2012 Guadalupe Island near Mexico Vulnerable
91 Not yet planted Forest 91 - Yet to be planted
92 Eucalyptus scoparia Forest 92 - Wallangarra White Gum (Australian native) 2010 Australia, QLD/NSW Vulnerable
93 Franklinia alatamaha and Carya illinoinensis Forest 93 - Franklin Tree and Pecan 2010 USA Extinct in the wild in the USA
94 Quillaja saponaria Forest 94 - Soap Bark Tree 2010 Chile Not threatened
95 Cupressus duclouxiana Forest 95 - Yunnan Cypress 2011 China Threatened
96 Catalpa bignonioides Forest 96 - Southern Catalpa 2011 USA Not threatened
97 Cladrastis kentukea Forest 97 - American Yellowwood 2012 USA Not threatened
98 Eucalyptus tricarpa‘ and Corymbia maculata‘ Forest 98, 99 - ANU Research Forests (Australian natives) 2010 Australia (Eastern) Not threatened
100 Allocasuarina verticillata Forest 100 - Drooping She oak (Australian native) 2010 and 2013 Australia (South Eastern) Not threatened
102 Maclura pomifera Forest 102 - Osage Orange 2011 USA Not threatened
103 Widdringtonia wallachii Forest 103 - Clanwilliam Cedar or Clanwilliam Cypress 2011 South Africa Critically Endangered
104 Koelreuteria paniculata Forest 104 - Goldenrain Tree 2011 Eastern Asia, China and Korea Not threatened
13 Geijera parviflora Forest 13 - Weeping Wilga 10 trees were planted in 2019, the remainder due to be planted in 2024 as part of the National Rock Garden Inland parts of eastern Australia Not evaluated
15 Xanthorrhoea glauca Forest 15 - Grass Tree 2020 Australia Not threatened

One of the Arboretum's primary roles is to promote the importance of plant diversity and its preservation, in line with the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC).

There are 31 threatened species of trees growing at the Arboretum, including:

  • Two that are extinct in the wild
  • Five critically endangered
  • Ten endangered, and
  • 14 vulnerable species.

Nine of the threatened species are native to Australia. (correct at the time of publishing).

Explore our full living collection for more information on the conservation status of trees at the Arboretum.

Conservation categories

Extinct in the wild: The species is known only to survive in cultivation.
Critically endangered: The species is considered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Endangered: The species is considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Vulnerable: The species is therefore considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Near threatened: The species is close to qualifying for, or is likely to qualify for, a threatened category in the near future.

* Conservation categories have been sourced from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, Australia (EPBC).

The trees planted at the National Arboretum Canberra were originally carefully selected by an expert panel of botanists, arborists, horticulturalists, consultants, ecologists and taxonomists.

Tree species were selected for their conservation status, symbolic nature, aesthetic value and suitability for the site and climate. Species were also chosen for their ability to provide seasonal colour and habitat for local wildlife.

To make ongoing decisions about tree selections, a number of ACT Government representatives, the Forest Management Advisory Group (FMAG) and others are consulted.