Arie Den Boer Arboretum

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Business Description

One of the world’s largest collections of flowering crabapple trees can be found at Water Works Park. The collection is properly named after its developer, horticulturist and author, Arie Den Boer; he was the collector and originator of the arboretum in 1930. He established a collection of 300 varieties of trees in his time, which Des Moines Water Works staff now maintains through pruning and propagation.

Arie Den Boer was perhaps the first successful nurseryman to popularize the crabapple tree with his bookOrnamental Crabapples, published in 1959. His book gave a nurseryman a different take on the crabapple, warts and all, and explaining the tremendous diversity of this plant in the landscape.

Today, the arboretum includes approximately 1,200 trees in the collection, with the youngest trees being planted through a donor tree program. At this time, we are no longer accepting donations for new trees in the arboretum; however, a donation can be made to the maintenance and care for the existing trees in the arboretum by contacting Des Moines Water Works at 515.283.8702.

The annual crabapple blossom usually blooms the last week of April and the first week of May, attracting thousands of visitors to Water Works Park.

 

Address
408 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA 50321
Phone Number
(515) 283-8700

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