Certified arboreta in Tennessee

Tennessee Urban Forestry Council has certified more than 50 arboreta throughout the state. They range from a small neighborhood school with 30 different species of labeled trees to a large research park with over 120 tree species and full-time employees and volunteers.

Guidelines define an arboretum as an area with a significant amount of woody vegetation in tree form that is cultivated for educational, scientific or aesthetic purposes. To be certified, an arboretum must be open to the public, the trees must be properly labeled for educational purposes, and they must be properly protected and maintained during the period of certification.

TUFC coordinates the Arboretum Certification Program throughout the State of Tennessee. The purpose of the program is to define minimum standards for public educational purposes of an arboretum, and to confirm these standards are met.

West Tennessee

Level 1

  • Chimneyrock Elementary School Arboretum (2003)
  • Chucalissa Tree Trail (2008)
  • Dyersburg Okena Park (2005)
  • First Presbyterian Church, Jackson (2010)
  • Liberty Garden, Jackson (2010)
  • Lichterman Nature Center (2003; recertified 2011)
  • Memphis City Beautiful Victorian Village Arboretum (2004)
  • Old Forest Arboretum of Overton Park (2002)
  • Peterson Lake Nature Center (2008)
  • Riverdale Elementary School (2010)
  • Sea Isle Park and School (2004)
  • Zadie E. Kuehl Memorial Park (2004; recertified 2009)

Level 2

  • Carlisle S. Page Arboretum (2000)
  • Dyersburg Middle School (2005, recertified 2008)
  • Trees by Touliatos Arboretum (2002) [withdrawn after owner's death, 2012]
  • University of Memphis (2004, recertified 2008)
  • University of Tennessee West Tennessee Research Center (2006)

Level 3

  • Central Gardens Neighborhood (2008)
  • The Louise Pearson Memorial Arboretum (2002; recertified Level 2, 2006; recertified Level 3, 2011)

Level 4

  • Dixon Gallery and Gardens (2006; recertified 2011)
  • Memphis Botanic Garden (2006; recertification pending, 2012)
  • Rhodes College (2011)

Middle Tennessee

Level 1

  • Bell Buckle Park (2011)
  • The Belle Meade Plantation (2000)
  • Brentwood Library (2008)
  • Couchville Lake Trail (2008)
  • Dickson Community Nature Trail (2004)
  • The Gerald D. Coorts Memorial Arboretum (2000)
  • Harpeth Hall School (2005)
  • The Hermitage Arboretum (2003)
  • The Hillsboro West End Arboretum (2000)
  • The Interstate Packaging Arboretum (2000)
  • Obed River Park (2004)
  • Old Hickory Lake Arboretum
  • (Environmental Study Area) (2001)
  • Pleasant Run Creek Arboretum (2004)
  • The Stones River Greenway Arboretum (2003)

Level 2

  • Deerwood Arboretum and Natural Area (2002)
  • McMinnville Civic Center (2006)

Level 4

  • Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art (2001; recertified 2011)

Pending

Level 1

  • Baddour Parkway (Fiddler’s Cove), Lebanon
  • Christ the King School
  • DeFriece Park, Bristol
  • Elmwood Historic Cemetery, Memphis
  • Exchange Place (Living History Farm), Kingsport
  • Hall’s Outdoor Classroom, Knoxville
  • Highwoods Realty, Memphis
  • Ijam’s Nature Center, Knoxville
  • LeMoyne-Owen College, Memphis
  • Roan Mountain State Park, Roan Mountain
  • Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, Roan Mountain
  • Woodland Presbyterian Church, Memphis

Level 2

  • Trevecca Nazarene University, Nashville

East Tennessee

Level 1

  • American Museum of Science & Energy (2001)
  • Ardinna Woods (2011)
  • Bonny Oaks Arboretum (2000)
  • Bryan College (2011)
  • Burchfiel Grove and Arboretum (2002)
  • Cherokee Trail Arboretum (2000)
  • Chattanooga Audubon Acres (2003)
  • Cleveland State Community College (2006; recertified 2011)
  • David Crockett High School (2010)
  • Domtar at Borden Park (2010)
  • Ivan Racheff House and Gardens (2003)
  • Karnes High School (2011)
  • Knoxville Botanical Garden (2011)
  • New Hopewell Elementary School Arboretum (2003)
  • Northeast State Community College (2010)
  • Ocoee Regional Nature Center (2001)
  • Sevier County High School Nature Trail (2000)
  • South-Doyle Middle School Nature Trail (2003)
  • Steele Creek Park Tree Trail (2003, recertified 2008)
  • Townsend River Walk (2011)
  • Walters State Community College (2006)

Level 2

  • Chattanooga State Technical College (2008)
  • Daniel Boone Arboretum (2003, recertified 2006)
  • UT Chattanooga (2010)

Level 3

  • University of Tennessee Trial Gardens (2003)

Level 4

  • East Tennessee State University (2002)
  • Chattanooga Arboretum and Nature Center (2002) [formerly known as Reflection Riding Arboretum]
  • UT Forestry Experiment Station & Arboretum (2001)