Memphis Botanic Garden’s 96 acres were certified by the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council as the first Level 4 Arboretum in West Tennessee in 2007 and recognized as the first Urban Forestry Center of Excellence for the state of Tennessee in 2012. In 2022, Memphis Botanic Garden achieved accreditation as a Level II Arboretum by The Morton Arboretum’s ArbNet Program for satisfying high standards in arboretum management and maintenance. Our collection features thousands of trees representing over 170 species, including 19 species of oak.

Trees are important to urban communities for many reasons. They sequester carbon from the atmosphere, help regulate air quality, control stormwater run-off, increase property value, and offer food and shelter to wildlife. To ensure that our trees continue to provide these important services, we maintain our collection with the highest quality of care. Our goal is to showcase their natural beauty while providing a suitable environment for our trees to maximize their ecological impact. 

We offer guided “Notable Tree” tours for groups that must be scheduled in advance. Call 901-636-4136 for information on scheduling a guided group tour.