Turn on more accessible mode Turn off more accessible mode Skip Ribbon Commands Skip to main content Go To Top Anchor

UTIA Family, please refer to utk.edu/coronavirus for the latest updates and student information. For UTIA-specific resources, including event information and county office status, please visit utia.tennessee.edu/coronavirus

Agriculture of Tennessee Home Page Link
  • UT System
  • UTK
  • MyUTK
  • OneDrive
  • Online@UT
  • Email
  • A-Z
  • People
  • Institute
  • Academics
  • AG Research
  • Extension
  • Veterinary
Search
The University of Tennessee Gardens, Knoxville
  • About Us
    • Mission and Vision
    • History
    • Gardens' Staff
    • Gardening Resources
    • Professional Affliliations
    • Sponsors
    • Subscribe to the Gardens' eNewsletter
  • Visit Us
    • Directions to the Gardens
    • Etiquette/Policies
    • Garden Maps
    • Parking for Visitors
    • Tours
    • Professional Photography Policy
  • Education
    • Workshops
    • Camps
    • Children's Programming
    • Garden Tours and School Field Trips
    • Seriously Gardening
    • Horticultural Therapy
    • Horticultural Therapy Certificate Program
    • Education Program Cancellation Policy
  • Special Events
    • Gardens Calendar
    • Virtual Howl-O-Ween
  • Garden Rentals
    • Children's Garden Rentals
    • Weddings & Event Rentals
  • Support the Gardens
    • Donate to the UT Gardens
    • Tributes and Memorials
    • Become a Member
    • Become a Volunteer
    • Student Opportunities
  • Research
    • Annual Herbaceous Plant Trials
    • Yearly Reports
  • Horticulture
    • "Best and Beautiful" Archives
    • Monthly Gardening Tasks
    • UT Gardens Magazine Archives
UT Institute of Agriculture > The University of Tennessee Gardens, Knoxville > History of the UT Gardens

History of the UT Gardens

Page Content

Montage of summer flowers in the UT Gardens, Knoxville

The UT Gardens, with locations in Knoxville, Crossville and Jackson, Tennessee, function as an outdoor laboratory to evaluate the performance and landscape use of every type of plant, from trees and shrubs to annuals and perennials to ornamental grasses and aquatic plants.

Perhaps one of the most important values of this nationally recognized garden is the fact that it is located in the mid-south where gardening and landscaping can be quite challenging. Because of the extreme summer heat and humidity common to Tennessee as well as the variable winters where plants experience frequent freezing and thawing, the test gardens are important proving grounds for the leading commercial seed and plant companies located around the world, who ultimately determine what plants reach the commercial market.

The gardens are planted to demonstrate each plants' ideal use in the landscape. In this manner, visitors are not only able to see what plants thrive and flourish in the Tennessee climate but get ideas on garden design and how to use plants in their own landscapes and gardens as well.

Established in 1983 by the Department of Plant Sciences, the UT Gardens are recognized as one out of thirty-four official All American Selections (AAS) test sites in the United States. The UT Garden Director conducts evaluations assessing heat and cold tolerance, flower production, plant uniformity, flower and plant size, pest resistance, and landscape appeal. Such information is important to commercial plant and seed companies, and essential to the success of commercial growers, landscapers, and gardeners allowing the Tennessee green industry to economically grow and for gardening to remain the number one hobby in America.

Page Content 2
Page Content 3
Page Content 4
Page Content 5
Real Life Solutions

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
Knoxville, TN 37996
Personnel Directory

Disclaimer · Indicia · EEO/AA Statement/Non-Discrimination Statement · Privacy Notice

Sign In