Adelphi University

Adelphi University’s campus is a 70-acre to 75-acre green space in suburban Garden City, providing a “welcome oasis” for the community. The grounds feature nearly 70 different types of trees and shrubs. Sustainability and organic maintenance have been central to the campus grounds care for over 20 years. The campus is entirely pesticide free, utilizing natural pest control measures, including the release of beneficial insects such as praying mantises, assassin bugs, and green lacewings. This organic approach has created a safe habitat for local fauna, including thriving cottontail rabbits, numerous species of birds that shelter in the campus’s elms and oaks, and even an estimated 1,000 Italian wall lizards.

The Adelphi arboretum maintains several distinct collections and historical trees. Notably, the flagpole lawn features 86-year-old azaleas planted by the Class of 1935, which provide a burst of spring color. The grounds offer a large variety of settings to enjoy, ranging from isolated gardens to row plantings, such as the rose garden. Adelphi places a strong emphasis on indigenous plants to support native ecosystems. The campus is home to native plants such as milkweed, golden aster, joe-pye weed, cardinal flower, button bush, goldenrod, butterfly bushes, cone flowers, and sweet azaleas. Furthermore, the native plant garden at the entrance to Alumnae Hall, which was redesigned in 2022 and 2023, now serves as an important educational tool and provides critical food and habitat for threatened native pollinators and birds.