Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries

What is a Herbarium?

Herbaria hold the tools for our understanding of the plant world

Botany Libraries

The Harvard University Herbaria house five comprehensive, non-circulating research libraries

The Famous Glass Flowers

The Glass Flowers are considered one of the University's greatest treasures and is the only collection of its kind in the world

Hero Pagination

The Harvard University Herbaria include six collections and more than five million specimens of algae, bryophytes, fungi, and vascular plants. Together they form one of the largest university herbarium collections in the world, and the third largest herbarium in the United States. With their state-of-the art research laboratories and world class libraries, the HUH have been a centerpiece of biodiversity science since the early 1800s.

What is an herbarium? Use of the Collections Digital Collections Visitor Policy Loan Policy

Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging

The Harvard University Herbaria (HUH) community denounces all forms of racism, harassment, and discrimination. We recognize the painful legacy of prejudice in which marginalized groups, especially scientists of color, who work across plant biology and academia have been made to feel unwelcome. With our colleagues across Harvard and in the botanical science and natural history communities, we stand ready to confront systematic racism and are committed to the creation of an inclusive and welcoming community in the HUH. We commit to the creation of a society in which all individuals are valued and in which diversity is welcomed, whether in race, gender identity, age, socioeconomic background, religion, ethnicity, ability, language, sexual orientation, or veteran status. To these ends, we are engaged in a rigorous examination of our own institutional and interpersonal practices, and are committed to the ethical stewardship of the collections we hold in trust.

We particularly want to invite all scientists to take advantage of funding opportunities that are a critical component to diversifying our community. Please join us in this important work.

Upcoming Events

HUH Seminar Series - Michael Bradshaw

Oct. 17, 2025
12:00PM - 1:00PM
HUH Seminar Room 125, 22 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA
Hybrid
Dr. Michael Bradshaw Assistant Professor Center for Integrated Fungal Research Director of the NC State Mycological Herbarium Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology: NCSU Title: Herbaria in the Modern Age: Insights from Powdery Mildews and Managing a...

HUH Seminar Series - Lova Marline

Oct. 31, 2025
12:00PM - 1:00PM
HUH Seminar Room 125, 22 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA
Hybrid
Dr. Lova Marline HUH Bartram Research Fellow Title: TBA

HUH Seminar Series - Mason Heberling

Dec. 12, 2025
12:00PM - 1:00PM
HUH Seminar Room 125, 22 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA
Hybrid
Dr. Mason Heberling Associate Curator of Botany Carnegie Museum of Natural History Title: TBA

Recent News

Congratulations, Jenifer!

Former HUH Research Fellow, Jenifer Lopes, has been selected as a finalist for a ScientistA Award , "recognizing the remarkable achievements of Brazilian women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at U.S. academic institutions and...