Friend's E-mail Address:*
Friend's Name:*
Your E-mail Address:*
Your Name:*
Additional Message:

	Hours 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., daily. Closed on major holidays. Directions Take Interstate 110 to Exit 8. Turn right onto LA Highway 19. Turn right onto Thomas Road. Travel approximately 3 miles to Foster Road. Turn right onto Foster Road. Arboretum is on your left. Admission The Cohn Arboretum is free to the public.

Cohn Arboretum

12206 Foster Road
Baton Rouge, LA
(225) 775-1006

History of the Cohn Arboretum

In celebration of his daughter Maggie's marriage to Laurens Henry Cohn in 1923, Alphonse deBretton gave his daugther and son-in-law a 16-acre tract in the pleasant countryside north of Baton Rouge.  The newlyweds built a small house for $748 and transformed the remaining land into an enthralling sanctuary with more than 100 plant species.

In 1964, the Cohn family donated this land to BREC.  In 1980, BREC opened the Laurens Henry Cohn Sr. Memorial Plant Arboretum to the public. 

Escape to Nature

This beautifully landscaped, heavily wooded, land is used for the preservation and study of native plants and flora from other areas. BREC's Cohn Arboretum features more than 300 species of native and adaptable trees and shrubs, including several Japanese maples, a Tropical Conservation House, a camellia collection, evergreen collections, a crape myrtle collection and an herb and vegetable garden.

A newly planted fruit orchard includes: apples, plums, persimmons, figs, jujubes, mayhaws, pears, citrus, pomegranates, mulberries and native blueberries.  Additionally, the arboretum features a butterfly garden as well as a large bamboo collection.

The arboretum is one of the area's leading horticultural attractions and is the perfect place to relax and unwind. With a growing segment of the population interested in nature-related outdoor ventures, the importance of wilderness trails is increasing.

Special displays include evergreens, hollies, spring flowering trees and bulbs, camellias, azaleas, roses, magnolias, irises, annuals and year-round displays of tropicals and ferns. Visitors are welcome to walk through winding trails in a tranquil setting.

Services include pamphlets, paved walkways, self-guided tours and guided tours. One 0.8 mile paved trail circles the lake and another skirts a wooded area. Both are accessible by wheelchair. If you would like a guided tour, you must pre-register by calling (225) 775-1006. Guided tours and presentations are available by request only and are limited to groups with a maximum of 14 people. 

Other amenities and plantings include: Earth Kind roses, four water features, birdwatching, painting and drawing opportunities, ponds with lily pads and fish, and a teaching garden for children with disabilities.

Visitors are welcome to enjoy the tranquility and beauty that the Cohn Arboretum has to offer. For more information, contact the Cohn Arboretum at (225) 775-1006.

Walking Trails