Castanea sativa
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- kas-TAN-nee-uh sa-TEE-vuh
- Description
European chestnut is a one of the largest species of chestnut trees with a trunk topping out around 7 feet in diameter and rising to about 95 feet high at maturity. It has a pyramidal-rounded to broad-columnar form, is a native of southern Europe, and is often found in nature in mountainous woods. The fruit of the European chestnut is edible, but it is not commercially grown in the United State due to its susceptibility to chestnut blight. The genus name comes from the Latin for the town of Castania in Thessaly where the trees reportedly grew in abundance. The species name comes from the Latin wordsativa meaning sown or cultivated by humans (as opposed to wild).
Chestnuts have been cultivated from this tree for human consumption since ancient times. Today this species is grown throughout much of Europe, northern Africa and southwestern Asia. Growth is widespread in Great Britain where this tree was first introduced during the Roman occupation. Chestnut blight appears to be much less aggressive in the cool and wet summer conditions in many parts of Europe than it is in the eastern United States; thus, the vast majority of chestnuts consumed as food in the United States are imported from European chestnut cultivars/hybrids commercially grown in Europe (most from Italy).
European chestnut grows well in most soils (sandy, loamy, and clay) including nutritionally poor soil, but prefers well-drained, mildly acid and neutral soils. It prefers full sun, dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought and maritime exposure.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems:Leaf spot, and powdery mildew can affect this tree. Chestnut blight is a serious problem. Litter from the fruit can create high maintenance. The pollen has an unpleasant aroma.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- Tags:
- #deciduous#shade tree#drought tolerant#large tree#flowering tree#edible nuts#deer resistant#deciduous tree#4h
- Attributes:
- Genus:
- Castanea
- Species:
- sativa
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The wood is durable and is used to make furniture, barrels, fencing and roof beams. However, it tends to split and warp.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western Asia and Southeastern Europe.
- Distribution:
- Albania, Greece, Turkey, and Iran.
- Wildlife Value:
- The nuts attract birds and other wild life.
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Shade
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Edibility:
- Once a staple food in Europe but now enjoyed as a delicacy. Historically, chestnuts were ground into flour or coarse meal.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 80 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
- Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Columnar
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
- Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Description:
- Edible fruit in the form of nuts held in spiny protective husks called cupules. This prickly outer layer deters squirrels and other seed predators from getting to the nuts within them, before they are shed in October.
- Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Tiny, dense clusters of monoecious flowers bloom in yellowish-green catkins (each to 4 to 8 inches long) in early to mid-summer. Flowers in the mid to upper portions of bisexual catkins are males, with a much smaller number of female flowers appearing at the base of such catkins. Flowers are produced on the current year's growth and they are very attractive to bees.
- Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The large leaves contain 20 pairs of parallel veins. The leaves are slightly furry. The underside is a lighter green. European chestnut leaves are coarsely-toothed, oblong-lanceolate, 6 to 10 inches long. Leaves turn yellow in fall.
- Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Bark Description:
- The bark often has a net-like pattern with deep grooves running up the trunk.
- Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Small Mammals
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Poor Soil
- Salt
- Problems:
- Messy
