Tennessee State Evergreen Tree

SENATE BILL 2362

By Faulk

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 3, to designate the eastern red cedar as the official state evergreen tree.

WHEREAS, there is no specific tree currently designated as the official state of Tennessee evergreen tree; and

WHEREAS, the eastern red cedar is indigenous to the entire state of Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, the tree was one of the earliest landscape trees used by early pioneers of the state of Tennessee such as Andrew Jackson at the Hermitage; and

WHEREAS, one of the earliest forest industries in the state of Tennessee was the cedar pencil industry; and

WHEREAS, the eastern red cedar is an integral part of an ecological niche called cedar glades; and

WHEREAS, the eastern red cedar is a sacred tree of the Cherokee peoples; and

WHEREAS, cedar knob was the original name of the land upon which the state capitol was built in Nashville; and

WHEREAS, Cedar Street (now Charlotte Avenue) was the name of the street at the foot of the state capitol in Nashville at the time of its construction; now, therefore

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 3, is amended by adding the following language as a new, appropriately designated section:

4-1-3   . The eastern red cedar, Juniperus virginiana, is designated as the official state evergreen tree.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.