Brenton Arboretum

The Brenton Arboretum is a 141-acre arboretum and public garden established in 1997. It is located in Dallas Center, Iowa, United States. The Arboretum displays 175 native Iowa trees and shrubs suitable to the site, as well as many other tree species which can grow in central Iowa. The arboretum currently displays over 2600 trees and shrubs. The Brenton Arboretum is a non-profit organization and open to the public 9 am to sunset Tuesday through Sunday.

The Brenton Arboretum was founded by Sue and J.C. (Buz) Brenton and their children, on land which was part of the original “Home Farm” acquired by Dr. James Brenton and his son, William Henry, soon after they arrived from Indiana in 1853 by covered wagon. Its first trees were planted in 1997. The Master Plan was created by Anthony Tyznik, Batavia, Illinois, who for many years was the landscape architect for the Morton Arboretum in Chicago, IL.

The Arboretum features a lake, pond, wetlands, several streams, walking paths, bridges, prairies, wildflowers, and a small library. Natural prairie was established to restore the land back to a pre-agricultural setting.