Monmouth Discovery

Gardens & Farms · Holmdel

Holmdel Arboretum (David C. Shaw Arboretum)

A 22-acre collection of trees and shrubs in Holmdel Park, begun in 1963 with 87 trees and now holding nearly 3,000 plants in themed gardens.

Holmdel Arboretum (David C. Shaw Arboretum), from visitmonmouth.com
Image: visitmonmouth.com

The David C. Shaw Arboretum, usually called the Holmdel Arboretum, is inside Holmdel Park. It covers 22 acres and was started in 1963 with crabapples, cherries and hollies, beginning with 87 trees. Most plants were donated by local nurserymen, and the collection is now close to 3,000 trees and shrubs.

The point is practical: it shows home gardeners which woody plants grow well locally and how they look at maturity. Themed areas include the Handleman Garden of broad-leaf evergreens, the Alvarez Synoptic Garden, where plants are grouped alphabetically by botanical name, and the Jayne Kluis Dwarf Conifer Garden.

The arboretum has no separate hours listed. It is reached through Holmdel Park, which opens at 7 a.m. daily, year-round, with closing times that change by season. Historic Longstreet Farm is in the same park.

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  • Family

Last checked 2026-10-24. Spotted something wrong? Suggest an edit

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