Public Gardens

We curate and maintain two gardens open to the public featuring native and medicinal plants.
Purple flowers in green bushes covered by a wooden structure.
Purple Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe involucrata) in front of the shade structure at the Medicinal Plant Gardens

Native Medicinal Plant Research and Show Garden

  • The Native Medicinal Plant Research and Show Garden focuses on plants native to the Kansas and Great Plains region that have been used traditionally for medicine, food, dye, and fiber. We also showcase the use of native plants in landscaping. This garden

learn more

Bushes next to a sidewalk with a sign that says "Lavender".
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) growing in the Tea and Scented Plants Bed at the Pharmacy Garden

Heim Memorial Pharmacy Garden

  • The Heim Memorial Pharmacy Garden emphasizes medicinal plants native to the US and Europe. Come visit the garden, located on the south Patio of KU’s School of Pharmacy in Lawrence, Kansas.

learn more

Hundreds of flower tops put on a table divided in to groups by color.

Dye Garden – The Colors of Nature

  • Natural plant dyes offer an environmentally friendly alternative to modern chemical dyes. For thousands of years, plants were the main source of colors for clothing. The Dye Garden showcases historically important and native dye and fiber plants. The Dye

Learn more

Informational handouts

The following handouts are for your general use, especially when visiting our medicinal research garden (1865 E. 1600 Road, Douglas County).

Handout: Overview of the Native Medicinal Plant Research Garden

Handout: Medicinal uses of selected plants at our medicinal research garden

Please visit the KU Field Station page for additional maps, brochures and handouts related to the KU Field Station.