Certified Arboretum

MTSU Interactive Tree Map

MTSU Sample of Native Tennessee Trees and Campus Map

Middle Tennessee State University celebrated its centennial in 2011 and has more than 500 acres comprising the beautiful main campus. A diverse range of over 100 species of trees both native and non-native, as well as newly-planted and mature, dot the beautiful campus of Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. These trees are not only viewed by the public; and make a lasting impression of our University on prospective students and visitors, but they are also used as part of MTSU’s educational curriculum as living “labs” utilized by MTSU Biology and Plant Science classes.

Records exist of the landscaping that has occurred on campus dating from the 1960’s to the present. Prior to the 1960’s not much is known about the landscaping on campus. As a result, we don’t know when some of the older trees on campus were planted. For example, the planting of the ‘Mount Vernon Walnut Trees’ in MTSU’s Walnut Grove is the only planting that occurred prior to 1960 that is recorded. The seeds were brought from Mount Vernon by Harry Belcher and planted at MTSU.

Of interest to visitors may be some of the older trees on campus. Examples include the Southern Magnolias by the Tom Jackson Building and the Shingle Oak and the Common Persimmon in the JUB and Rutledge Hall area. Examples of rare trees include the American Elm at Abernathy/Alumni Drive, the September Elm near the Kennon Hall of Fame area, and the Underwood Hican (a cross between a hickory and pecan) and the Shinerling Shagbark Hickory by McFarland.

The late Dr. Earl New, Professor of Agriculture (from 1967 to 1977), had a vison about MTSU becoming an arboretum and was responsible for planning the diversity of representative tree and shrub species on campus. He designed the original landscaping plans for more than 15 campus buildings with this objective in mind. As the campus continues to expand and natural losses occur, campus planning has attempted to maintain the species diversity. The MTSU Grounds department maintains the campus landscape, which changes seasonally and makes the campus an inviting place to visit.

Take a walking tour of the campus using the pamphlet titled An MTSU Sampler of Native Tennessee Trees and enjoy views of native Tennessee trees (plus one unique introduced species, a male and female Ginkgo). The pamphlet unfolds to the campus map annotated with locations of trees while another part of the pamphlet provides tree details that include common and scientific name, GPS coordinates, and historical remarks. Copies of the pamphlet can be obtained at MT One Stop or the Student Union Help Desk. This pamphlet was developed to guide visitors to campus trees that reflect Middle Tennessee natural heritage. These native Tennessee trees have been identified and designated in an effort to have MTSU designated a Tennessee Level 1 Arboretum. In 2015, the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council recognized MTSU as such. Much of this work was completed by Larry Sizemore and Dr. Kim Sadler.

Jason W. Young, MTSU Grounds, Greenhouse, & Motor Pool Manager
(Special thanks to Larry Sizemore, Greenhouse Supervisor and Landscape Specialist, retired in 2015 with 40 years of service at MTSU)