The arboretum was established in 1985, and includes all of the landscaped areas of the entire 335-acre (136 ha) campus. The arboretum's missions are to display mature plants suited for high desert conditions, and to investigate new plants and cultivars. The arboretum also includes a 2-acre (0.81 ha) Xeric Garden, established in 1988 and located at the entrance to the Marjorie Barrick Museum, which contains plants from arid regions from around the world.[1]
^Thomad, Summer (August 27, 2017). "UNLV's Hidden Gems". UNLV Scarlet & Gray Free Press. Archived from the original on September 1, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2018.