Certified arboreta in Tennessee

Tennessee Urban Forestry Council has certified more than 70 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 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.


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West Tennessee

Level 1

  • Arboretum at First Presbyterian Church, Jackson (2010)
  • Chimneyrock Elementary School Arboretum (2003)
  • Chucalissa Tree Trail (2008)
  • Dyersburg Okeena Park (2005, recertified 2012)
  • 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 (Level 1, 2005; Level 2, 2008)
  • La Grange Cemetery Arboretum (2012)
  • Trees by Touliatos Arboretum (2002) [withdrawn after owner's death, 2012]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 (Level 1, 2002; Level 2, 2006; Level 3, 2011)

Level 4

  • Dixon Gallery and Gardens (2006)
  • Memphis Botanic Garden (2006; recertification , 2012)
  • Rhodes College (2011)
  • Shady Acres Park (2013)

Middle Tennessee

Level 1

  • Bell Buckle Park (2011)
  • The Belle Meade Plantation (2000)
  • Brentwood Library (2008)
  • Christ the King School (2012)
  • Dickson Community Nature Trail (2004)
  • Harpeth Hall School (2005)
  • The Hermitage Arboretum (2003)
  • The Hillsboro West End Arboretum (2000)
  • The Interstate Packaging Arboretum (2000, recertified 2013)
  • Long Hunter State Park's Jason Allen Arboretum Trail at Couchville Lake (2008, recertified 2013)
  • Monteagle Sunday School Assembly (2012)
  • 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 3

  • G.D. Coorts Memorial Arboretum (Level 1, 2000; Level 3, 2011)

Level 4

  • Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art (Level 1, 2001; Level 4, 2011)
  • White House Arboretum (2013)

Pending

Level 1

  • Baddour Parkway (Fiddler’s Cove), Lebanon
  • DeFriece Park, Bristol
  • Elmwood Historic Cemetery, Memphis
  • Exchange Place (Living History Farm), Kingsport
  • Highwoods Realty, Memphis
  • 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)
  • Bonny Oaks Arboretum (2000)
  • Bryan College (2011)
  • Cherokee Trail Arboretum (2000)
  • Chattanooga Audubon Acres (2003)
  • David Crockett High School (2010)
  • Domtar at Borden Park (2010)
  • Halls Outdoor Classroom Arboretum (2012)
  • Ijam’s Nature Center, Knoxville (2013)
  • Ivan Racheff House and Gardens (2003)
  • Karnes High School (2011)
  • Marble Springs State Historic Site (2013)
  • 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)
  • Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area (2012)
  • Townsend River Walk (2011)
  • Walters State Community College (2006)

Level 2

  • Ardinna Woods, Jonesborough (2011)
  • Burchfiel Grove and Arboretum (Level 1, 2002; Level 2, 2010)
  • Chattanooga State Technical College (2008)
  • Cleveland State Community College (Level 1, 2006; Level 2, 2011)
  • Daniel Boone Arboretum (Level 1, 2003; Level 2 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)