Visit an Arboretum
Interested in discovering more in the Knoxville Urban Forest? Visit an area Arboretum. There are several arboreta in Knox and neighboring counties that are open to the public.
An Arboretum is a plot of land on which many different trees or shrubs are grown for study or display and are accredited. There are twelve accredited arboreta in the greater Knoxville area.
Arboretums are accredited up to 4 levels, and each level depicts a minimum amount of trees and requirements. These levels vary between the different certifying groups. In Tennessee, the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council, for example, requires 30-59 distinct trees for level I accreditation, and the Interactive Community of Arboreta sponsored by the Morton Arboretum requires 25 unique species to attain Level I. Other requirements may include that trees are labeled and a map of tree locations that is available to the public. There are more requirements to meet as the levels increase. Level 4 arboreta may have 120 unique species of trees.
Area Arboreta
Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum
Gresham Middle School
Fulton High School
Racheff Park and Garden 1943 Tennessee Ave, Knoxville, TN 37921 (865) 522-6210
Outside Knoxville
Norris Commons Arboretum Norris Square Norris, TN 37828
U.S. and Worldwide
Interested in Becoming an arboretum or a tree sanctuary?
The Tennessee Urban Forestry Council has opportunities to turn your backyard, school, neighborhood, or local park into a certified Arboretum or Tree Sanctuary.
The Interactive Community of Arboreta (ArbNet) and the Morton Arboretum/Register has an ARBORETUM ACCREDITATION PROGRAM.