Description
American Chestnut Trees (Castanea dentata) are fast-growing, long-lived native hardwoods that were once known as the “giants of the eastern forest”. The American Chestnut was once so common that it was said a squirrel could travel on chestnut trees from Massachusetts to Ohio without touching the ground. About 1900 a few logs infected with the chestnut blight, a fungus, were shipped in from Japan and within 40 years the tree was almost totally wiped out. A few large American Chestnuts survived in upper Michigan as we are out of the native range. I have 3 – 30′ specimens that are doing well so far!!!
nuts they produce are sweet and edible, loved by both humans and animals. The American Chestnut tree has a broad, graceful canopy that turns a beautiful golden color in the fall. They are a wonderful choice for food plots, restoration plantings and homesteads. Our Chinese Chestnut.
Scientific Name: Castanea dentata
Zone: 4-8 Click here to find your growing zone.
Mature Height: 60-100 ft
Mature Width: 40-60 ft
Growth Rate: Rapid
Soil: Prefers loamy, well-drained soil. Can tolerate sand but not wet or poorly drained soils.
Drought Tolerance: Moderate – once established, can handle better than most hardwood trees.
Flood Tolerance: Poor
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Fall Color: Golden Yellow
Wildlife Value: Wonderful food value. Preferred by black bear, turkey, squirrel, deer and many other animals. The blooms support pollinators.
