Photo from Arbor Day 2025 by Ma'Naida Gonzalez/MG Photography
The grounds of Elmwood Cemetery are wooded with about 1,300 individual trees, representing 91 species, including varieties of oaks, elms, black walnuts, maples, beeches, yews, willows and a wide array of flowering trees. The cemetery was certified a Level I Arboretum by the Morton Arboretum and ArbNet in 2015 and was the first certified Arboretum in the city of Detroit.
As part of the accreditation process, Elmwood’s trees were surveyed and tagged, creating a detailed report of the species, location and condition of each of the cemetery's trees. ArbNet also verified that Elmwood has practiced sound management in its care and reforestation of the Arboretum.
The Elmwood Arboretum is notable for its diversity and for its maturity; many trees on the grounds were here long before the cemetery. The oldest tree in the Arboretum is a bur oak that is estimated to be about 280 years old. The Arboretum is also home to Michigan's second largest sweetgum tree and third and fourth largest Lombardy poplar trees, according to the Michigan Big Tree Registry.
The Elmwood bur oak in Bloody Run valley.
Elmwood's Arboretum is an incredible place to learn about Michigan trees, the importance of native species for supporting ecosystems and healthy communities, and the impact of diseases, pests, and climate change on our local environment.
Learn more and explore the Elmwood Arboretum
- Visit on your own — one example of every species in our collection has an ID plaque. How many can you find?
- Download one of our three self-guided tree tours (see below), or pick one up in the office
- Join a guided tree tour in the spring or fall with a certified Arborist — keep an eye on our community calendar for more info
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to request a private guided tree tour or field trip for your students- Join us every Arbor Day for a community celebration, tree planting, and Arboretum walk
- Make a gift to our foundation to support our efforts to significantly ramp up re-planting in the next decade
Elmwood’s self-guided tree tour maps:
Elmwood Tree Tour Southern Sections
Elmwood Tree Tour Center Sections
Elmwood Tree Tour Northern Sections
View our accreditation certificate here: Elmwood Arboretum Certification - 2025