Garden featuring medicinal plants opens in Ann Arbor

A newly developed medicinal garden is open for self-guided tours at the University of Michigan. It’s part of the Matthaei Botanical Gardens, and consists of paved paths separating plant beds that are unconventionally organized — grouped according to systems of the human body and the conditions they treat, according to Director Bob Grese. For example, foxglove is a common garden plant that will be in the “cardiovascular” section because it’s a heart medicine ingredient.

The team at Matthaei Botanical Gardens worked on the project for more than two years, collaborating with Leslie Shimp, professor at the university’s College of Pharmacy, and IHPI member Sara Warber, clinical associate professor at the university’s Medical School.

“There are many gardens that address medicinal plants, but very few attempt to be evidence-based like this one,” Warber said. “So often, we talk about plants and the conditions they treat, but many haven’t seen or considered them in their original state.”