Purple Collection

Purple Garden 

The Purple Garden is one of the rediscovered gardens that we are still gathering information on and hope to revive. It was included on a tour of the Arboretum in the late 1970s by Edward Duda, Associate Professor of Plant Science at UConn. In his description, he wrote:  

“Here one may find purple-leaved varieties of Japanese maple, European birch, and barberry. In contrast, observe the collection of golden or yellow forms of arborvitae, hemlock, false cypress, privet sweetgum, and elm on the other side of the road.  

Another earlier pamphlet described the Purple Garden as a “collection of purple varieties of trees and shrubs. Here are, among others, purple European birch variegated beech, cutleaf maple, and a purple privet hedge. “

We are excited to observe this space and help bring it back to its original purpose.