The Iowa Arboretum is known as the ?living Library of Plants.? It is located at along Peach Avenue at Madrid, Iowa. The 387-acre arboretum is home diverse collection of plants, trees, and animals thriving in the timberlands, gardens, and streams.

The arboretum presents 19 garden collections. The Alpine Rock and Trough Garden displays different sizes of troughs along the entryway to Jones Memorial Gazebo. The Butterfly Garden has native shrubs which are home to different species of butterflies. The perennial plants are sources of nectars and food for the larvae. Some of the butterfly species that visitors can see are coneflower butterfly, butterfly milkweed, and bottlebrush buckeye.

The Iowa Arboretum installed also the Children?s Garden. It was established in early 2000 so that children visitors can play in the garden safely while doing planting and tending of seedlings. The plants potted in the area have also labels and are arranged alphabetically.

One of the most sought attractions in the arboretum is the collection of Flowering Trees. It is located at the west center point of the arboretum. During spring season, different colors of flowers can be observed such as pink, white, orange, yellow, and the likes. The most popular tree in the area is the pink flowering Magnolia tree.

Other collections inside the Iowa Arboretum are the as follows: Arie Kroeze Memorial Teahouse, Coffman Vibumum Walk, Founders?? Grove, Governor?s Oak, Iowa Hosta Collection, Jacobson Conifer Collection, Large Conifers, Large deciduous Trees, Medium Deciduous Trees, Native Prairie Restoration, Nut Trees, Ornamental Grasses, Palustrine Wetland, Peony Labyrinth, Perennials, Shade Garden, shrubs, Stout Medal Daylilies, Theresa?s Schutt Hosta House, Wetland Trees, and Windbreak.