Our Mission

We inspire people—through cultivation, conservation, and education—to understand, appreciate, and nurture plants and the cultures they sustain.

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Connecting plants and peoples for a

world of beauty, diversity, and hope

Our History

Established in 1935 as the Cornell Arboretum, later renamed Cornell Plantations, and in 2016, became Cornell Botanic Gardens—we are responsible for the natural beauty of the Cornell University campus.

jules tour

Our Team

Our talented staff, volunteers, student interns, and advisory council members create, steward, and support the plants and programs critical to our mission.

Our college

We are a unit of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Our work supports the CALS mission to explore the boundaries of knowledge and tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education and outreach.

Students walking on campus.

Opportunities to Work With us

Cornell Botanic Gardens depends on the energy and enthusiasm of volunteers, faculty, and professional staff from campus, community, and beyond. Their expertise spans multiple disciplines, creating beautiful spaces and mission-driven impact.

Annual Report

Learn about the annual accomplishments of Cornell Botanic Gardens and how we raise awareness of the vital connections between the plants that sustain us and the world’s rich diversity of human cultures.