Bickelhaupt Arboretum

Bickelhaupt Arboretum
Interactive map of Bickelhaupt Arboretum
WebsiteOfficial website

Bickelhaupt Arboretum (14 acres) is a non-profit arboretum located in Clinton, Iowa. The arboretum is open from dawn to dusk throughout the year and is maintained under the auspices of the Clinton Community College.[1][2]

History

The arboretum was established by Bob and Frances Bickelhaupt around their home and given to the public in 1970. They created the arboretum to "demonstrate how well hundreds of certain plants would stand up in the area, and how they should be cared for."[3]

The Bickelhaupts grouped tree plantings by genus[4] and each plant is labeled.[5] Major collections include maple (Acer), birch (Betula), hickory (Carya), beech (Fagus), ash (Fraxinus), honeylocust (Gleditsia), magnolia (Magnolia), ornamental crabapple (Malus), oak (Quercus), linden (Tilia) and elm (Ulmus). Other specimens include alders (Alnus), pecan (Carya illinoinensis), hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), dogwoods (Cornus), ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), thornless honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis), Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus), black tupelo (Nyssa), swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor), willows (Salix), and baldcypress (Taxodium). The arboretum also includes conifer specimens of spruce, pine, fir, douglas fir and larch.

In 2025, the Bickelhaupt House underwent renovations to enable it to host events, as well as to create a platform that overlooks the landscape.[6] A new library and classrooms were added to "support research, workshops, and interactive experiences."[7] Also included in the refurbishment was the transformation of the house's pool into a display of glass art by non-profit Hot Glass.[8]

Collections

The arboretum's collection of garden conifers contains over 600 accessions from 14 genera hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 4a to 6a, each labeled with botanical and common names. These including over 100 one-of-a-kind Witches' Brooms, of which 3 are naturally occurring. The arboretum also includes a selection of ornamental shrubs with major collections including boxwood (Buxus), hydrangea, roses (Rosa), lilacs (Syringa), and viburnum.

The arboretum's grounds also include a butterfly garden, a country garden, a daylily (Hemerocallis) collection (including 54 Stout Medal winners), the Mercy Hospice Herb Garden (featuring more than 60 herb specimens), the National Hosta Display Garden (featuring over 200 cultivars), perennials, prairie grasses, a rock garden and a wildflower garden.

See also

References

  1. ^ Thomatz, Melissa (May 3, 2023). "Bickelhaupt Arboretum". American Conifer Society. Archived from the original on November 9, 2025. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  2. ^ "Bickelhaupt Arboretum". Eastern Iowa Community Colleges. March 4, 2026. Archived from the original on October 22, 2025. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  3. ^ Riggenbach, Jay (June 25, 1978). "Fast-growing trees weaker, more brittle than lost elms". The Telegraph-Herald. p. 36.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ Bennett, Paul (May 2000). The Garden Lover's Guide to the Midwest. Princeton Architectural Press. p. 99. ISBN 9781568981659.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  5. ^ "Arboretums make great spring travel". The Ogden Reporter. March 26, 2003. p. 7. Retrieved March 6, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "Bickelhaupt Arboretum renovations advance, focusing on preservation and environment". KWQC. August 13, 2025. Archived from the original on March 4, 2026. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  7. ^ Cook, Linda; Waidelich, Gavin (May 1, 2025). "Groundbreaking for Bickelhaupt Arboretum, Clinton, promises new community center". Our Quad Cities. Archived from the original on July 25, 2025. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  8. ^ Waidelich, Gavin (February 19, 2026). "Davenport glass-making nonprofit completes project for Clinton arboretum". WHBF Davenport. Archived from the original on March 4, 2026. Retrieved March 4, 2026.

41°50′27″N 90°13′10″W / 41.8408°N 90.2194°W / 41.8408; -90.2194

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