Estimated Height at Pickup: 4-5', 3 gal

A once dominant species in the Appalachian mountains and a culturally signifigant species throughout its range, this species has been near wiped out in the last century by the introduced chestnut blight. This listing is for a ‘straight’ plant, not a hybrid or a strain bred for resistance. Because of this, these trees are unlikely to exceed 30’ before they are killed back by the blight and must resprout from their roots.

Pollination: 2+ individuals needed.

Light: Full Sun, Part Sun/Sade

Soil Moisture: Mesic, Dry Mesic, Dry

Soil Type: Loam, Clay Loam, Rocky Loam

Height: 60’-100’

Width: 50’-75’

Bloom Color: White

Bloom Time: Jun-Jul

Fruit: Large, nutritious nuts in an incredibly spiky hull that splits open when mature.

Fall Color: Yellow

Root Type: Taproot

Notable Wildlife Interactions: Flowers attract bees, beetles, and flies. Hosts 25+ species of moth, and well as a few beetles, borers, tree hoppers, and smaller insects. Nuts are valued by many mammals and nut eating birds. Occasionally browsed by deer and rabbits.

Notes: Once valued for both its prolific and nutritious nuts, American chestnut was also an important source of fast growing, rot resistant wood. Multiple efforts are underway to breed a resistant population through line breeding, hybridization, and direct genetic modification. NPU eagerly awaits the results of these efforts.