Indiana Medical History Museum

Click here to download the Guidebook to the IMHM Medicinal Plant Garden.

THE MEDICINAL PLANT GARDEN

The Medicinal Plant Garden at the IMHM is maintained by Purdue Master Gardeners of Marion County. The garden features over 120 different medicinal plants, including trees, shrubs, and vines as well as annuals and herbaceous species. Nearly half of the specimens are Native American medicinal plants, while others originated in Europe, Asia, and Africa. So that a visit to the garden can be an educational as well as aesthetic experience, each plant is accompanied by signage stating its origin, what parts had medicinal uses, and what some of those uses were. Common and scientific names are given.

There are three ways to tour the garden:

1st and 3rd Saturdays at 11:00 am, June-September

Join us for a free, guided tour of our Medicinal Plant Garden. Tours will include information about the plants in the garden and their traditional uses as home remedies, as well as their role in the development of modern medications. Tours will be led by volunteers from Purdue Master Gardeners of Marion County, who lovingly maintain our beautiful garden.

Schedule a Group Tour

Arrange for a special guided tour of the garden for your group. Great for clubs, schools, families, and team-building activities. There is a $25 flat fee for groups of 15 or less. Additional fees will apply for larger groups.

To request a tour, please complete the form

at least three weeks in advance.

You may combine a group tour of the Medicinal Plant Garden with a tour of the Old Pathology Building. Indicate so on the form.

For additional information call 317-965-0670

Self-Guided Tours

Informative labels make it convenient for you to explore the garden on your own and learn about the medicinal uses of a variety of plants. You may take a self-guided tour anytime during the Indiana Medical History Museum's regular operating hours.

The garden is for the purpose of demonstration - not prescription. Visitors should gain a greater appreciation for the historic sources of medicinal remedies and enjoy the fascinating stories that the plants have to tell. Neither the Master Gardeners nor the IMHM intend to encourage the use of any herbal treatment. "Natural" does not mean "Safe." Many medicinal plants have toxic, sometimes dangerous effects. Visitors should consult with their health care professional concerning anything they learn in the garden.

More extensive information about the plants and about herbal medicinal preparation in general is available in an illustrated Guide to the Medicinal Plant Garden. Download the guide here.