Irresistible! The Michigan Peony Garden You Don’t Want to Miss!
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Dive Into the Ann Arbor Peony Garden
Hey Michigan! If you’ve got a thing for flowers, there’s a garden in SE Michigan that’s worth putting on your spring calendar. Especially if you can catch it when the peonies are popping.
Every year, the W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden at Nichols Arboretum (in Ann Arbor) puts on a seriously showy display. We’re talking hundreds of blooms in full color. Fluffy, fragrant, and over the top, their bloom lasts for about three glorious weeks.
Imagine over 800 peony plants doing their thing, 10,000 blooms in 27 beds, and a sea of pinks, reds, and whites stretching in every direction. It’s a full-blown floral spectacle, and yeah, you can see why people want to visit this place every year.
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What to Expect at the W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden
People have been visiting these peonies for generations. It’s one of the largest and oldest collections of heirloom peonies in North America, with roots (literally) going back to the 1920s.
If you’re lucky enough to be blessed by the blooms this year, you can do more than just gaze at the fields of flowers.
For Photographers
Photographers, this is a dream shoot. Morning light, dewy petals, and peonies that just won’t stop.
If you come here to take pictures, you’ll want to grab the Photographer’s Favorites walking guide. It points you straight to the peonies that love posing for the camera – bold colors, layered petals, etc. (Do Tell and Red Charm tend to steal the show, but honestly, every corner of the garden is holding something for you.)
Good to know:
- There is no charge for amateur or professional photographers in Nichols Arboretum taking pictures of people in their natural areas.
- U of M suggests bringing a parasol if you come midday, as the flower colors tend to wash out in the bright sun.
For Artists
Artists, easels are welcome! Bring your sketchpad or your watercolors and settle in on the turf pathways for the afternoon.
*Please set up on the turf paths so others can walk around you.
Themed Walking Guides
And for the rest of us? Stroll the garden paths, breathe it all in.
If you want a little direction, take advantage of the peony bed maps or download one of the garden’s walking guides and follow a path that matches your mood.
| Sniff Your Way Through the Garden | Peonies just smell good. But not all the same. The Fragrant Peonies guide helps you compare as you go. It’s basically a scent tour, no scratch and sniff stickers required. |
| Upjohn’s Favorite Peonies | Want to know how this whole garden got started? Follow in the footsteps of Dr. William Erastus Upjohn, who donated his personal collection back in 1922. This guide takes you to the blooms he loved most, with quotes pulled from his original notes. For garden nerds and history fans |
| Influential Women | Powerful names, beautiful blooms. This guide leads you to peonies named after influential women—think Florence Nightingale, Fanny Crosby, and other groundbreakers. Inspiring. |
Plan Your Ann Arbor Peony Garden Visit
Peony bloom season is late May into early June, but it changes slightly year to year depending on the weather.
Typically, the cheery peonies will bloom over three weeks, from late May and into early June.
So yes, timing is everything. This isn’t a season-long situation. The sweet spot is short – last year, full bloom was Memorial Day weekend into early June.
If you think your eyes can handle seeing 800 peonies open into an explosion of color, then check back – we’ll keep an eye on what bloom-time for 2025 looks like and keep you updated.
Best Bet: Plan on late May and be flexible with timing your visit. Keep an eye on the U of M bloom-tracker.
Bonus: If you’re hoping to take a little piece of the garden home with you, don’t miss the Peony Sale at Matthaei Botanical Gardens. It runs Saturday, May 31 – Sunday, June 1, 2025, and features many of the same varieties you’ll see blooming at Nichols Arboretum.
Location, Admission, Hours & Parking
Admission & Hours: Here’s some good news: visiting the peony garden is free.
And, it’s open daily, from sunrise to sunset.
Location: This peony paradise is located in Ann Arbor at the at the W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden at Nichols Arboretum.
Parking: You should know, though, that parking near the Arb can be tricky.
- Metered street parking is available,
- Free visitor parking is available in the UM blue lot M28 on Washington Heights for free after 5 PM weekdays and on weekends.
- During peak season, parking near Nichols Arboretum is very difficult. Visitors are encouraged to use the Ann Arbor bus system.
- Map of potential parking places
| Location | Hours |
|---|---|
| Nichols Arboretum & Peony Garden 1610 Washington Hts, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 | Open seven days a week, sunrise to sunset |
| Matthaei Botanical Gardens 1800 N Dixboro Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 | Tues – Sun: 10 AM – 4:30 PM Wed: 10 AM – 8 PM Closed Mondays |
Bring a Friend, a Blanket, or a Paintbrush?
Well, there you have it. What it comes down to is this: the peonies don’t wait!
With just a few weeks of peak bloom between late May and early June, your window is short and totally worth planning for. Memorial Day weekend is usually the sweet spot, but it shifts with the weather, so keep an eye out and stay flexible if you can.
Whether you’re snapping photos, sketching in the shade, or just taking it all in, the Ann Arbor peony garden delivers and is worth the trip. We sure hope you can catch it at its best this year. See you there!
