Greenhouses Grow More Than Plants
Greenhouses Grow More Than Plants
Perhaps best known for showcasing Rotty Top—the huge, stinky, corpse flower that bloomed a few summers ago—the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Greenhouse is a remarkable asset and gem on the University of Tennessee’s Knoxville campus. It consistently supports departmental research as well as an array of classes across campus—from biology and plant sciences to landscape architecture and art.
More than 12 EEB faculty, 25 graduate students, 50 undergraduate students, and other volunteers use the greenhouses every year to grow a variety of plant species for research. Additionally, 650 students and 12 different classes annually visited the greenhouses from 2022-2024 to explore the plant collections, conduct class experiments, and gain a better understanding of the functionality of greenhouses through part-time jobs and internships.
Under the management of Director Jeff Martin and Co-director Kaitlyn Palla, the greenhouses also serve many other outreach and service functions to UT and beyond. For example, greenhouse staff maintain outdoor gardens located around the Hill, including a fern garden on the east side of Hesler Biology Building, a moss garden in the courtyard of the Science and Engineering Research Facility (SERF), and a native plant garden in the courtyard behind Dabney Hall. These gardens serve as important green spaces for students, faculty, and staff to learn about plants and to de-stress and relax. Most recently, a plant drop on the fourth floor of Hesler Biology was started to share free plant cuttings and propagules. The greenhouse staff members know how satisfying it is to be able to grow something green in your home or office. Because of this, they also have assisted with wellness initiatives on campus, providing plants for a residence hall mental health initiative called De-Stress to Success and to a campus-wide One Health awareness event in spring 2023.
The greenhouse staff and many volunteers also manage a wildflower trail at Dean’s Woods (Deanbrook Nature Area), located in South Knoxville. The trail is surrounded by 17 acres of hardwoods and is rich with spring ephemerals. Recently, The Dean’s Woods Foundation was created to support the upkeep, new plantings, and plant signage with the generous support of dentist Walter Fain (’70).
Greenhouses are open to UT students, staff, and faculty Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with access through a UT ID card or phone. Please email Jeff Martin, jmarti90@utk.edu, for more information and for inquiries about how you can use the greenhouse space for research, teaching, and outreach. For weekly updates visit the greenhouse Instagram page, @utk_greenhouse.