Native Medicinal Plant Garden
About the Garden
The Native Medicinal Plant Garden is a place to learn about native plants and their use for medicine and food. It is also where we conduct some of our field research on native and medicinal plants.
Our street address is: 1865 E. 1600 Road, Lawrence, Kansas
Where to Find Us
We are located less than 10 miles from downtown Lawrence, KS. The garden is open to the public dawn to dusk. We ask that you leave pets at home, as this is a research garden and our intent is to keep it as clean as possible. We are part of the KU Field Station, which includes 1,600 acres of research land with public trails three miles north of the garden.
Directions to the Garden: From downtown Lawrence, travel north across the bridge and follow Highway 59 to Highway 40. Turn east and travel 1.5 miles to East 1600 Road, then half a mile north to the garden. Please be careful at the intersection of Highway 40 and East 1600 Road.
Alternate bike route: From downtown Lawrence, head north across the bridge. At the north end of the bridge, take an immediate right (heading east) onto the Kansas River levee trail. Follow the trail approximately one mile to the North 8th Street and Oak Street access point and head north half a block to Oak. Turn right (east) for one long block to North 9th Street/East 1550 Road, the city limit, then four blocks north to Maple Street/North 1650. Turn east onto the gravel road and travel half a mile (the factory will be on your left) to East 1600. Turn left (north) and travel a total of two miles, passing under I-70 and across Highway 40; the garden is half a mile north of Highway 40. Be very careful crossing Highway 40.
At the Garden you will find our Demonstration Garden, showcasing the use of native plants in a garden or home landscaping setting. You will also find interpretive signs for many of the plant species which have been used historically as medicine. We partner with the Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners to maintain the show garden and provide educational opportunities.
Demonstration Garden
At the Garden you will find our Demonstration Garden, showcasing the use of native plants in a garden or home landscaping setting. You will also find interpretive signs for many of the plant species which have been used historically as medicine. We partner with the Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners to maintain the show garden and provide educational opportunities.The central portion of the garden in a series of research rows, each home to 2 – 4 species of native and medicinal plants, planted in mass.
KU Community Garden
The KU Community Garden is located on the north end of the garden, This garden is managed by KU students, staff, and faculty. Pictured are radishes harvested by the KU Community Gardeners.
KU Community Garden XAt the west end of the garden, you will see several honeybee hives managed by the KU Beekeeping Club.
Nearby prairie area: Rockefeller Prairie, an exceptionally diverse tallgrass native prairie with unusual and rare prairie species, is located only three miles north of the garden at the KU Field Station. See the map to Field Station sites and the public trail system map of the KU Field Station to plan your trip.