Bonniecrest Arboretum
The Property
Among Newport’s most historic and admired harborside properties, Bonniecrest is perched on a hill with its landscape rolling gently to the sea. Built in 1912, the historic main residence was designed by John Russell Pope and is surrounded by a classic Olmsted Brothers picturesque landscape.
In the beaux arts tradition, John Russell Pope took the utmost care in selecting and purposefully aging materials both native and imported—including hand split Vermont slate and Virginia stone—to ensure that the built structure fully complemented the rocky shoreline and picturesque landscape.
“Bonniecrest is one of the most spectacular brick Tudor revival residences in America. Built by Stuart Duncan, the house stands confidently on its cliff-side overlooking Brenton Cove in Newport.”
The Collections
Bonniecrest boasts an astounding variety of well over 140 species and cultivars of trees and shrubs; a significant number date back to the original Olmsted Brothers 1913 site design. Olmsted Bros site drawings and detailed plant lists have been restored and are in the care of the Redwood Library.
As the landscape continues to evolve, decisions about accessioning and maintenance of the ‘living collections’ will balance the needs of the classically picturesque landscape with a new sensitivity regarding conservation.
The Mission
The mission of the Bonniecrest Arboretum is to shed a light on the rich history of this heritage landscape and its evolution over the last century, protect the remaining core historic trees and other important landscape elements, and work with residents and Board to fashion an inspired vision for the 21st century. Bonniecrest Arboretum will take a leadership role in demonstrating best practices in the stewardship of an arboretum and heritage landscape in the modern era.
Special Features
HERITAGE COLLECTION: CHAMAECYPARIS
Bonniecrest’s diverse collection of evergreens includes striking specimens of mature Cryptomeria japonica, 13 varieties of juniper, 4 varieties of yew and 6 varieties of Thuja. However, the arboretum’s most spectacular heritage evergreen collection is undoubtedly its collection of venerable Chamaecyparis. Many of these specimen evergreens likely date back to original installation of the 1912 landscape, including Golden hinoki cypress, scallop shell hinoki cypress, compact scallop shell hinoki cypress, boulevard cypress, threadleaf cypress, gold threadleaf cypress, and compact hinoki cypress.
EUROPEAN BEECH COLLECTIONS
Multiple mature specimens of European beech (Fagus sylvatica), Newport’s signature Gilded Age tree, are represented at Bonniecrest, including fernleaf, copper, green, and weeping varieties.
GEORGE ROGERS HALL
Bonniecrest’s collections include seven species that arrived first in America thanks to plant hunter, Dr. George Rogers Hall of Bristol, Rhode Island. Hall made two voyages to Japan in 1861 and 1862, bringing back dozens of new species to America including the following species that can be found represented in Bonniecrest’s landscape: Aucuba japónica, Chamaecyparis obtusa, Chamaecyparis pisifera, Hibiscus syriacus, Hydrangea paniculata f. grandiflora, Juniperus chinensis f. japónica, and Sciadopitys verticillata.
