Division of Forestry Seedling Nursery Now Accepting Orders

Sep 16, 2024


A close up of a field with a bright blue sky behind it.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry’s (TDF) East Tennessee Nursery is accepting tree seedling orders until April 1, 2025, or while supplies last. More than 30 species of tree and shrub seedlings are currently available for reforestation and conservation projects.
 
“The seedlings we grow at the East Tennessee Nursery are a vital part of Tennessee’s future forests,” State Forester Heather Slayton said. “Whether rural or urban, private or commercial, our forests and trees have a direct impact on our state’s economy, infrastructure, and health. We are proud that the seedlings we grow at the nursery each year will positively impact our state for generations to come.”
 
The East Tennessee Nursery, which cultivates millions of native trees and shrubs each year, sells seedlings in bulk at affordable prices to public, nonprofit, and private organizations, as well as individuals.
 
“TDF’s nursery is uniquely positioned to support reforestation on a large scale across the state,” TDF Reforestation Unit Leader and Nursery Manager Gina Sowders said.

Please visit www.planttntrees.org to purchase seedlings online.

Several cost share and financial assistance programs are available to qualified landowners to provide financial assistance for seedling purchases. Sponsored programs include:
  • The Beam Suntory program promotes the purchase of oak, hickory, pecan, and shortleaf pine seedlings.
  • The Promark (formerly D’Addario) program supports the sustainability of hickory and oak in Tennessee.
  • The Huber Engineered Woods, LLC program, Trees for Tennessee, is designed to expand pine regeneration on fallow fields and recently harvested land.
  • The Tree City USA program supports cities and towns seeking to grow urban and community forests.
  • The White Oak and Shortleaf Pine Initiatives assist landowners in purchasing white oaks and shortleaf pines.
Each program has its own eligibility requirements, and some require a forest management plan. Contact your local area forester at www.tn.gov/agriculture/forests/staff to learn more about these programs and their eligibility requirements, including forest management plan development.

Landowners may also quality for cost share opportunities for hardwood and softwood seedling purchases through the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP). For information about TAEP, visit www.tn.gov/agriculture/forests/landowners/financial/taep-for-forest-landowners.

The Division of Forestry protects and promotes the responsible use of forest resources in Tennessee. Focus areas include assisting landowners with a variety of services, providing quality tree seedlings, supporting forest health programs, collecting forest inventory data, assisting forest industries, and fighting wildland fires. Visit http://www.tn.gov/agriculture/forests for more information.
 
 
 

Read More News

Feb 16, 2026
Tennessee’s agricultural fairs across the state were recognized for excellence during the Fairs’ Merit Awards at the 104th Tennessee Association of Fairs (TAF) Convention, held Jan. 15–17 in Murfreesboro.
 
Feb 09, 2026
The 2026 Pick Tennessee Products Conference was held January 15-17 in the Farm Bureau Exposition Center at the James E. Ward Agriculture Center in Lebanon. A record-number 1,018 attendees pre-registered for the event, with 74 exhibit partners — including Tennessee Farmers Cooperative — representing businesses across Tennessee.
 
Feb 02, 2026

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is launching a new online portal to streamline reporting of transactions involving U.S. agricultural land by foreign persons, which can include businesses and governments, under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA). The new online portal is part of a broader effort to strengthen enforcement and protect American farmland as USDA continues its implementation of the National Farm Security Action Plan (PDF, 1.2 MB).