MTSU Arboretum
MTSU Arboretum
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)
Scientific Name: Fagus grandifolia
Location: Peck Hall
N 35° 50’ 55” N 86° 22’ 10” W
Triangular nuts are food for wildlife.
Scientific Name: Ulmus americana
Location: Abernathy Hall
N 35° 50’ 67” W 86° 21’ 67”
Mucilaginous sap; twigs chewed on quench thirst.
Scientific Name: Ilex opaca
Location: Todd Building
N 00° 00 ’ 00” ??? W 00° 00’ 00” ???
Splendid large holly tree specimen.
Scientific Name: Liquidambar styraciflua
Location: Health, Wellness, and Recreation Center
N 35° 50’ 75” W 86° 21’ 52”
Fruit is woody, spiney tipped “gum ball”.
Scientific Name: Tilia americana
Location: Rutledge Hall
N 35° 50’ 95” W 86° 22’ 19”
Wood decays easily in older trees; provides cavity habitat.
Scientific Name: Prunus serotina
Location: Voorhies Industrial Studies Building
N 35° 51’ 00” W 86° 22’ 24”
Wood is most valued for cabinets; fruits plentiful for wildlife.
Scientific Name: Nyssa sylvatica
Location: McFarland Building
N 35° 50’ 94” W 86° 21’ 75”
Attractive autumn foliage; excellent ornamental.
Scientific Name: Juglans nigra
Location: Walnut Grove
N 35° 50’ 51” W 86° 22’ 09”
Seeds obtained from Mt. Vernon by MTSU groundskeeper.
Scientific Name: Quercus macrocarpa
Location: Learning Resource Center (LRC)
N 35° 50’ 51” W 86° 21’ 56”
Produces jumbo-sized acorns.
Scientific Name: Diospyros virginiana
Location: James Union Building (JUB)
N 35° 50’ 54” W 86° 22’ 03”
Produces astringent orange fruit; food for wildlife.
Scientific Name: Sassafras albidum
Location: Wood-Stegall Center
N 35° 50’ 50” W 86° 22’ 10”
Mature tree with only single-shaped leaves instead of three..
Scientific Name: Amelanchier arborea
Location: Keathley University Center (KUC)
N 35° 50’ 89” W 86° 21’ 94”
Named because first blooms of spring used for funerals.
Scientific Name: Cercis canadensis
Location: Keathley University Center (KUC)
N 35° 50’ 86” W 86° 21’ 95”
Pink flowers are first blooms of spring; heart-shaped leaves.
Scientific Name: Juniperus virginiana
Location: Walnut Grove
N 35° 50’ 48” W 86° 22’ 10”
Wood repels insects; used for cedar chests.
Scientific Name: Pinus strobus
Location: President’s Lawn
N 35° 50’ 72” W 86° 22’ 28”
Wood is lightweight and flexible; many uses
Scientific Name: Cornus florida
Location: Ezell Hall
N 35° 50’ 74” W 86° 21’ 66”
How can you identify a Dogwood? (The bark)
Scientific Name: Ginkgo biloba
Location: Peck Hall
N 35° 50’ 87” W 86° 22’ 10”
Nonnative included for unique leaf and cones; in fossil record.
Scientific Name: Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Location: Cope Administration Building (CAB)
N 35° 50’ 76” W 86° 21’ 18”
Extensively planted as an ornamental tree
Scientific Name: Gymnocladus dioicus
Location: Courtyard between Science Building and LRC
N 35° 50’ 83” W 86° 21’ 89”
An uncommon tree; produces large brown seed pods.
Scientific Name: Catalpa speciosa
Location: Jones Hall
N 35° 50’ 55” W 86° 22’ 04”
Flowers produce long seed pods that resemble cigars.
Scientific Name: Quercus palustris
Location: Science Building Courtyard
N 35° 50’ 76” W 86° 21’ 89”
Symmetrical tree with reddish-orange fall foliage.
Scientific Name: Acer rubrum
Location: McFarland Building
N 35° 50’ 96” W 86° 21’ 80”
One of the first trees to turn colors in the fall; first spring flowers.
Scientific Name: Betula nigra
Location: Business and Aerospace Courtyard (BAS)
N 35° 50’ 79” W 86° 21’ 82”
Exfoliating Bark is a characteristic to look for.
Scientific Name: Ulmus serotina
Location: Kennon Sports Hall of Fame
N 35° 51’ 17” W 86° 22’ 04”
Fruits in September; American Elm stricken by blight.
Scientific Name: Carya ovata
Location: James Union Building (JUB)
N 35° 50’ 92” W 86° 22’ 19”
The sweet nuts provide food for wildlife.
Scientific Name: Magnolia grandiflora
Location: Tom H. Jackson Building
N 35° 50’ 54” W 86° 22’ 10”
Planted in front of first dining hall at MTSU.
Scientific Name: Acer saccharum
Location: Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building
N 35° 50’ 78” W 86° 21’ 63”
Sap has twice the sugar content of other Maples.
Scientific Name: Quercus michauxii
Location: Tennis Courts
N 35° 51’ 22” W 86° 22’ 16”
Fall leaf color primarily yellow; large acorns valued by all.
Scientific Name: Magnolia virginiana
Location: Davis Science Building
N 35° 50’ 49” W 86° 22’ 00”
Produces large white lemon-scented flowers in the spring.
.Scientific Name: Platanus occidentalis
Location: Science Building near Library South Parking Lot
N 35° 50’ 71” W 86° 21’ 86”
Native Americans used this tree for medicinal purposes.
Scientific Name: Liriodendron tulipifera
Location: President’s Lawn
N 35° 50’ 68” W 86° 22’ 25”
One of the oldest trees on campus; present in 1911 campus photo.
Scientific Name: Fraxinus americana
Location: Alumni Drive / Cope Administration Building (CAB)
N 35° 50’ 88” W 86° 21’ 82”
Valued for its strength and elasticity; used for baseball bats.
Scientific Name: Quercus alba
Location: Peck Hall
N 35° 50’ 91” W 86° 22’ 12”
Acorns have no dormancy and germinate immediately.
Scientific Name: Quercus phellos
Location: Quad / James E. Walker Library
N 35° 50’ 80” W 86° 21’ 85”
Widely planted as an ornamental; lumber used for crossties.
