Plan Your Visit
Serene walking paths take you past wildflowers and trees in this 5-acre gem on the UNC campus. Rest on one of several open lawns, or take a seat on a shady bench. Coker Arboretum changes with the seasons: from spring blooms to summer greenery and fall color to winter trees, there’s always something to see.
Hours
Coker Arboretum is open dawn to dusk, 365 days a year.
Leashed pets are welcome (please pick up after them).
Directions & Parking
Coker Arboretum is located on the corner of Cameron Avenue and Raleigh Street in Chapel Hill. Click here for Google Maps directions. Metered parking is available nearby and around downtown Chapel Hill.
Paths
Coker Arboretum paths are mostly flat and either smooth grit or brick. They are wheelchair accessible.
Arbor Renovation in Progress
We’re joining together with UNC Facilities Planning and Design to renovate the Coker Arboretum arbor to ensure it’s safe, accessible, and able to be enjoyed by students and community members for years to come. Vine removal is beginning in October 2022, with the arbor structure to be dismantled in December.
Support the Arboretum
Help us maintain the Coker Arboretum by making a donation to the endowment fund.
A Haven in the Heart of Chapel Hill
History
In 1903, Dr. William Chambers Coker, the University’s first Professor of Botany and the first chair of the University Buildings and Grounds Committee, began developing a five-acre boggy pasture into an outdoor University classroom for the study of trees, shrubs, and vines native to North Carolina. Beginning in the 1920s and continuing through the 1940s, Dr. Coker added many East Asian trees and shrubs. These species, closely related counterparts to many North Carolina native plants, enhanced the beauty and educational value of the Arboretum. Today the collection consists of a wide variety of plantings including flowering trees and shrubs as well as bulb and perennial displays. The Arboretum has something unique to offer during every season of the year.
Third Saturdays March-November
Take a tour of Coker Arboretum!
$9 ($8 NCBG Members)
Led by an experienced guide, this tour provides a relaxed, informative introduction to this jewel in the heart of Chapel Hill. This walking tour will explore the 5-acres that make up the Arboretum, allowing time for observation and discussion. Each tour differs as the gardens change through the seasons.