What is an Arboretum?

An arboretum (Latin arbor, "tree") is a living collection of trees and often shrubs grown to illustrate the diversity of species. These plants are often cultivated for scientific and educational purposes. An arboretum may be a collection in its own right or a part of a botanical garden. The main functions of arboretums are to grow and display a large selection of named woody plants.

The Vision of the Flour Mill Arboretum:

The vision for this arboretum is to grow and nurture a public space that showcases native plants and offers opportunities for people to learn and reconnect with nature as they are immersed within it. The creation of the arboretum also helps to heal and regreen the area. It offers traditional medicine and showcases both the restoration story of Junction Creek and the regreening of Greater Sudbury.

JCSC will continue to work with the community to shape the arboretum in a way that suits their needs. We welcome opportunities for support and collaboration.

Where to find the Arboretum?

The arboretum is located in the Flour Mill neighbourhood of Greater Sudbury (N’Swakamok), at the north end of Clinton Avenue by the Junction Creek Waterway Park ‘Downtown to Flour Mill’ trail.

A History of the Flour Mill Arboretum:

The arboretum was initially envisioned as part of the 15th-anniversary celebration of the Junction Creek Stewardship Committee. A collection of 15 native trees were planted in 2015 with the idea that the arboretum would eventually become a beautiful and restful space for people using the trails. As time was required for the trees to establish, the arboretum has yet to have an official public opening, however, various public walks and activities have been held in the space since.

Present Progress:

The arboretum is expanding and is still a work in progress. Since 2015, volunteers and community partners have helped with annual maintenance, weeding, creation of pathways, installation of signs, and planting additional trees, shrubs, and wildflowers. As of 2023, there are 10 species of coniferous trees, 20 species of deciduous trees, and 23 species of shrubs. Multilingual plant identification signs (Anishinaabemowin, English, French, and scientific species names) are being installed to help visitors identify native trees and shrubs. Public tours and events are also being offered to help introduce the community to the space.

Future additions to the space may include a bench, informative signage, pollinator garden and other features that the community would like to see. More work and community support are still needed to complete and maintain the arboretum. If you are interested in helping, please email restoration(at)junctioncreek(dot)com.

Species list

Click here for species list.

A special thank you to everyone involved in helping to grow this space in a meaningful way, including local experts, Dr. Peter Beckett and Dr. Gerard Courtin, community partners, funders, supporters, and countless volunteers!

Better Beginnings Better Futures

City of Greater Sudbury

Early Childhood Creative Collaborations

Flour Mill Community Action Network

Ryan Mariotti

Strong Neighbours Climate Change Resilience Project

TD Friends of the Environment

Vale Canada Ltd.

VETAC