Guests surrounded by a beautiful water feature

Explore Knoxville, TN

The University of Tennessee Gardens

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The University of Tennessee Gardens inspire thousands of people each year with our show of plants. We strive to inform the population on plants by offering educational program, horticultural displays, and conducting plant research.

Recognized in 2013 as the official botanical gardens of the state of Tennessee, the Gardens are located in Knoxville, Jackson and Crossville—all part of the UT Institute of Agriculture. Open during all seasons and free to the public, the Gardens contains some 4,000 annuals, perennials, herbs, tropicals, trees, shrubs, vegetables and ornamental grasses are evaluated each year.

The UT Gardens function as an outdoors laboratory to evaluate the performance and landscape use of every type of plant. Its location in the midsouth is instrumental in discovering the proving grounds for plants under extreme heat and humidity and variable winters. Leading commercial seed and plant companies around the world depend on UT Gardens for information about the plants that reach the commercial market. 

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Entranceway into UT Gardens complex
Yellow vase surrounded by yellow tulips
Rusty truck surrounded by beatuiful flowers
Redbud trees blooming in the Spring
View of fall colors thru a heartshaped frame made of stone.
Guest petting a statue of Smoky, the UT mascot
Lady standing in the middle of a human sundial
Trial garden with individual raised plots of plants
Trial Garden
The University of Tennessee Gardens
Hours
Open all year round -Sunrise to Sunset.
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For the most up-to-date hours and information, please contact The University of Tennessee Gardens directly.

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