On June 16, the University of Memphis campus was named a Level 3 Arboretum by the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council and the Tennessee Division of Forestry.
The U of M’s main campus is home to 100 different species of trees, with 90 being the requirement for a Level 3 Arboretum. All of the trees on campus are indigenous to the Memphis area.
The Tennessee Urban Forestry Council defines an arboretum as an area with many trees that are used for educational, scientific or aesthetic purposes. The guidelines to receive the Level 3 designation requires at least 90 trees to be marked in the arboretum.
Currently, there are 30 arboretums in West Tennessee, with the U of M being one of the three Level 3 Arboretums in this section of the state. In total, Tennessee is home to four Level 3 Arboretums.
Kim Wilson, manager of landscaping services at the U of M, said that it is an honor to have an arboretum at the university.
“Arboretums are a real challenge and honor,” Wilson said. “There are only a handful in West Tennessee and only four Level 3 Arboretums in the whole state.”
The University of Memphis’ arboretum wasn’t easy to maintain, according to Wilson.
“The trees have to be regularly tended to,” Wilson said. “We’ve had droughts in the summer and freezes in the winter, which definitely makes it more difficult, but the campus is thriving.”
There is also an arboretum-walking path at the U of M, which starts near Fogelman and ends at the Campus School. The tour takes viewers across campus to look at 100 different trees. A map of the path can be found online for students who want to go alone, but a guided tour can also be requested.
“The arboretum is a great tool for students who want to learn about local vegetation,” Wilson said.
The University of Memphis’ arboretum will undergo recertification in 2018.
