About

Holden Facts

Founded 1931 on donated land

Original acreage	100
2009 acreage	3,600
Elevation	730-1266’
Latitude	41 degrees
Longitude	81 degrees
Average rainfall	43.85”

Hiking Trails

More than 20 miles of trails, including easy (E), moderate (M) and rugged (R) trails.

Blueberry Pond (E) 0.5 miles – View seasonal plants and gather landscape ideas. Discovery packs for children, which enhance the experience, can be borrowed at the Corning Visitor Center.

Bole Woods (M) 1.5 miles – Visit this National Natural Landmark of mature beech-maple forest and associated plant and animal life.

Corning Lake (M) 1.0 miles – Explore the shore line and wildlife of Corning Lake. Access to Bole Woods, the Bicknell Sugarbush, the Helen S. Layer Rhododendron Garden and the waterfowl observation blind.

Highlights Extension (E) 2.0 miles – Discover major features, gardens, collections and natural areas.

Old Valley (R) 2.8 miles – Holden’s longest trail offers a secluded hike that lets you get close to nature.

Pierson Creek Loop (R) 1.9 miles – Walk beside a continuously shifting creek channel that flows through a valley filled with delicate wildflowers and ferns.

Woodland (M) 1.5 miles – A journey through a young forest and a deep woods. Be e sure to pick up a self-guided tour brochure at the Corning Visitor Center or at the start of the trail.

Plants

As of April 1, 2009, The Holden Arboretum has:

17,388 accessioned plants and mass plantings
12,784 woody - 4,604 herbaceous
5,811 taxa (types of plants) of which 1,120 were collected wild
158 families
677 genera
2,096 species
3,265 cultivars
2,164 hybrids

Collections

Conifer Collection

This is a tree or shrub of the order Coniferales. Most conifers bear cones and most are evergreens, though a few, such as the larch, are deciduous. Conifers are widely distributed over the world but are mostly found in the highlands of temperate regions.

Arthur S. Holden Sr. Hedge Collection

This collection was installed in 1969, is the Display Garden’s most formal architectural element, with 28 hedge plantings radiating from an oblong hub.

Magnolia Collection

This is a large genus of about 210 flowering plant species in the subfamily Magnolioideae of the family Magnoliaceae. Large buds on the end of the branches can be seen from a distance.

Specimen Tree and Nut Tree Collection

These are a part of our themed plant collection. Holden’s themed plant collections present a larger selection of species and varieties within the scope of a single plant genus, family or functional group.

Viburnum Collection

There are about 75 taxa of viburnums on the west shore of Lotus Pond which was established in 1972.

Lilac Collection

The lilacs are the oldest accessioned plant in the Display Garden. The lilacs date back to 1939, when the entire area was laid out as the Lilac Collection. There are about 200 lilac specimens in the Display Garden.

Gardens

	*Acres*	*Plants*
Arlene and Arthur S. Holden Jr. Butterfly Garden	2	1,048
This garden shines in July, August and September, when colorful masses of black-eyed Susan, purple coneflower, bee-balm, catmint and flowering sage are further ornamented by flying “flowers” attracted by their nectar and pollen.
Myrtle S. Holden Wildflower Garden (29 habitats)	5	1,788
Holden’s Wildflower Gardens display herbaceous wildflowers and woody plants that are native to our region. These are arranged in habitat plantings, in which plants are placed together with those plants that they grow with in the wild.
Helen S. Layer Rhododendron Garden	20	2,123
This garden encompasses 25 acres of groupings of rhododendrons, azaleas and related plants under a canopy of mature oaks, beeches and maples. While the bulk of flowering occurs in April, May and early June, the sheltering tree canopy makes this area a favorite destination for peaceful walks throughout the summer and fall.
Display Garden	30	2,192
Paths meander around two ponds and three collections: the Lilac Collection, the Arthur S. Holden Sr. Hedge Collection, and the Viburnum Collection.
Lantern Court Garden	25
The landscaping was planned by Warren H. Corning and Donald Gray, landscape architect. When entering the grounds, visitors can immediately enjoy the view of magnificent perennial borders, rose and wildflower gardens, rockery, and hosta collection.

Holden Natural Areas

	Acres
Baldwin Natural Areas	530
Bole Woods	92
Brainard Bog	15
Carver’s Pond	9
Corning Woods	125
East Branch of the Chagrin	6
Fisherman’s Pond Area	210
Holden Meadows	350
Little Mountain (1,266’ peak elevation)	190
Pierson Creek Valley	570
Stebbins Gulch	820
Strong Acres	310
Bicknell Sugarbush	30

Lakes and Ponds

	*Acres*	*Location*
Corning Lake	15.2	Display Garden
Baldwin Pond	0.75	Scout Cabin area
Blueberry Pond	2.20	Display Garden
Buttonbush Bog	1.40	Display Garden
Carver’s Pond	9.30	North of Wisner spring
Crystal Pond	0.16	Holden Butterfly Garden
Fisherman’s Ponds (6 ponds)	9.15	Kirtland-Chardon Rd.
Fosters Ponds	2.10	Display Garden
Heath Pond East	1.02	Rhododendron Garden
Heath Pond West	1.80	Rhododendron Garden
Hourglass Pond	3.10	Rhododendron Garden
HSC Pond	0.83	Horticultural Science Ctr.
John Bole Pond	0.43	Bole House
Lily Pond	0.30	Lantern Court Gardens
Lotus Pond	0.80	Display Garden
Oak Pond	0.23	Rhododendron Garden
Reflecting Pond	0.18	Butterfly Garden
Sassafras Pond	0.18	Overflow Parking
Strong Acres Pond	0.27	Strong Acres Area
Turtle Pond	0.92	Lantern Court Gardens

Birds

Since its inception 218 species of birds have been reliably reported at The Holden Arboretum. Some of these birds have only been seen once and may never be found again. Of the 218 total, 93 are confirmed nesting species. The Holden Arboretum offers a wide variety of habitat. Some of it is unusual in the region and Holden is one of the few places in the state of Ohio where rare northern nesters, such as Winter Wren, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler and Dark-eyed Junco can be found. To learn more about the birds of Holden, visit the Bird Bios page.