There's something for everyone at Elvis Presley's Graceland - especially if you love nature.
Graceland is surrounded by beautiful trees, flowers and plants, all of which are maintained and cared for by our grounds-keeping staff. Not only do these trees and flowers make the property even prettier, but they are also educational.
The Graceland Mansion was named the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council's first corporate arboretum on June 7, 2013. It's also the first National Historic Monument to be certified as a corporate arboretum.
Here's a video from 2013 about Graceland's arboretum.
An arboretum, for any non-nature fans in the audience, is a collection of trees cultivated for educational, scientific or aesthetic purposes and labeled with information including genus, species and common name.
All of the trees at Graceland are labeled. This is especially educational when school groups visit, or when it's Scout Day, and troops are encouraged to explore the different types of trees at Graceland.
Graceland includes 20 identified species of trees, including Southern Magnolia, American Elm, Willow Oak, Red Maple, Pecan, American Holly, Tulip Poplar and Black Cherry.
A recent addition to the trees at Graceland is a Somei Yoshino Cherry Tree.
The tree was a gift to Memphis in appreciation for Memphis' relief efforts after the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. Motohiko Kato, Consul General of Japan in Nashville, and the Japanese delegation attended the tree planting ceremony at Graceland.
“I hope that the cherry blossom trees at Graceland will become living reminders of our thanks and also symbolize the continued growth of the friendship between Memphis and Japan just like the cherry blossom trees in Washington D.C.," Kato said at the ceremony.
Graceland's trees and plants make the property even more special. The next time you visit Graceland, be sure to take the time to appreciate the trees (and learn more about them, thanks to their labels!), flowers and other plants that make Elvis Presley's home even more beautiful.