Native Trees of Indiana River Walk

About the Project

Native trees of indiana river walk

A walk with deep roots.

What we now call our Native Trees of Indiana River Walk began in 1963, when the founders of what was then Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne planted 91 different species and varieties of trees, shrubs, and ground covers as the start of an informal arboretum. In the decades since, new varieties have been added, old and damaged plants have been removed, and the campus has grown and changed in many ways.

The native tree walk as we know it is the product of decades of careful stewardship of our natural resources along the bank of the St. Joseph River. In the early 1990s, students in the Biology Club worked with the grounds department to begin the labeling process that now allows you to enjoy learning about more than 100 different species of trees native to Indiana. Our early web efforts, including many photos of our plants, succeed thanks to longtime university horticulturalist Rich Weber.

Two students site on a ledge near the Mastodon statue.

Ongoing efforts

For the beauty of campus.

Our Facilities Management crew carefully maintains our ever-growing arboretum, and our Department of Biological Sciences and Environmental Resources Center catalog and study each new species. All this effort results in an experience—seeing and learning about native trees, shrubs, ground cover, and even animals—for your enjoyment and study.