Coker Arboretum

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

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Coker Arboretum in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was established in 1903 by Dr. William Chambers Coker, the University of North Carolina’s first professor of botany and chair of the University Buildings and Grounds Committee.

The arboretum, located on a five-acre site that was once a boggy meadow, was initially developed as an outdoor classroom and showcase for native plants of the southeastern United States. It now contains more than 600 species, including native trees, shrubs, and flowering vines like wisteria and coral honeysuckle, as well as a notable black locust arbor built in 1911.

The arboretum features a medicinal "drug garden" created in 1914 with over 170 species of plants used for healing. Over time, additions such as a stone mosaic gathering circle and renovative projects have enhanced its appeal. Managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden since the 1980s, it continues to serve as a living museum and peaceful retreat for both educational purposes and leisurely enjoyment, maintaining a more natural and wild ecosystem.