Biodiversity

Middle Tennessee State University is proud to be recognized as a Level 2 Arboretum by the Tennessee Urban Forrestry Council, reflecting our commitment to biodiversity and sustainability. Our 500-acre campus features more than 100 species of trees—native and non-native—serving as living laboratories for education and research. Of these trees, 73 are tagged and identified as part of our Arboretum.

Explore our resources:

• Interactive Tree Map
• Native Trees on Campus
• Arboretum Home Page

Take a walking tour and discover the beauty and history of our trees, from iconic White Oaks to rare species like the Dawn Redwood. Every tree is tagged with information such as species name, native status, and an interesting fact. Each tree tells a story of heritage, conservation, and learning.

Arboretum Tree Tag

The JEWL Seed Library, located inside the James E. Walker Library on the first floor near the reference desk, opened its doors in April 2025.

The library houses over 160 varieties of seeds—flowers, herbs, and vegetables—neatly organized in a repurposed card catalog cabinet. Community members and students can borrow up to five seed packets per week, signing them out just like books.

Each seed packet comes with planting instructions, and additional gardening resources are available on nearby shelves.

MTSU Seed Library

A pollinator garden is located in the courtyard behind the Science Building. It is maintained by the Biology Department. Covering nearly 1,300 square feet, the garden features a diverse mix of native shrubs and grasses, creating a thriving habitat for pollinators.

MTSU Pollinator Garden

The Living Learning Garden, funded by the Sustainable Campus Fund in 2020, is located next to the Ellington Human Sciences Building. It is maintained by the Students for Environmental Action club and serves as a space for hands-on learning about gardening practices.

MTSU Living Learning Garden