The Newport Tree Conservancy will plant a clonal replacement of a historic American sweetgum tree at Morton Park on Thursday, Oct. 9, at 2 p.m.
The original sweetgum, estimated to be over 150 years old, was lost during a weather event in September 2024. The tree stood during the Olmsted Firm’s survey of the land while designing Morton Park.
As part of the conservancy’s mission to preserve Newport’s historic landscape, the horticulture team grafted the notable specimen, creating identical genetic copies of the sweetgum. Seven of these cloned trees are now thriving in the conservancy’s nursery, each standing over six feet tall.
The planting marks a milestone for the organization as its first clonal tree replacement. One exceptional specimen has been selected for planting as an in-kind replacement to ensure this element of the park’s historic landscape endures for future generations.
The public is invited to attend the planting ceremony.
