The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Cedar glades and barrens are among of the rarest habitat types in the Southeastern United States. Distinctive in appearance, these regions in middle Tennessee are characterized by a mosaic of limestone outcroppings, dense cedar thickets, upland forests, and grass-dominated barrens. The glade outcroppings and barrens are home to a wide array of rare and beautiful wildflowers and grasses.

Location
Rutherford county

What to See
The glade has a number of rare and threatened species including the yellow sunnybell (Schoenolirion croceum), the limestone fame-flower (Talinum calcaricum), and the pale umbrella-wort (Mirabilis albida).

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
TNC bought this property from the Barr family in 1991 to protect the number of rare and threatened species that call Sunnybell Cedar Glade home.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
A buffer strip of glade was sold to the Tennessee Department of Transportation to alter plans for I-840, which would originally have gone through the glade. In 2005, The Nature Conservancy transferred the property to the state of Tennessee to be a State Natural Area. There is no public access.

Things To Do

Plan Your Visit

Directions

Discussion

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