Chestnut, American
Castanea dentata
Family: Fagaceae
3-4 ft height at sale, bare root
Native to Vermont
Sourced from Vermont
Nuts formed in burr. Timber valuable.
General Information
Recommended Spacing (ft)
35 - 40
Mature Width (ft)
30 - 40
Mature Height (ft)
50 - 75
Annual Growth Rate (in)
12 - 36
Sun Preference
Full Sun
Soil Type
Sandy to Loamy
Soil Moisture
Moist, Well-drained
Description
American chestnuts were once the dominant forest tree east of the Mississippi. In 1904 the chestnut blight arrived from China and within 20 years a combination of disease and preemptive logging caused the tree to go nearly extinct. Small and large scale breeders all over the country have been working to bring back the American chestnut. Chestnuts are easy to harvest and process and are of tremendous value to wildlife. Plant chestnuts on a well-drained site with good sun. Sometimes leaves on young trees show signs of iron deficiency (yellowing between the veins) which can be corrected with sulfur. Once settled in they are rapid growers. Chestnuts need to cross pollinate, so plant at least two but better three. (Tree description adapted from East Hill Tree Farm, Plainfield, VT)