american chestnut (castanea dentata)

american chestnut was once the monarch of eastern forests, stretching from maine to georgia in vast numbers. towering 100 feet and more, it provided durable timber, a limitless supply of sweet, starchy nuts, and a mast crop that fed people, livestock, and wildlife alike. in the early 20th century, chestnut blight — a fungal disease introduced from asia — swept through and nearly erased the species, leaving only sprouts and memories of what was once the dominant tree of the appalachians and northeast.

yet the story isn’t over. across the country, dedicated growers and researchers are working to bring chestnut back. the seedlings offered here descend from parent trees distributed by the american chestnut foundation, chosen for their blight tolerance and potential to help rebuild the species. collected as seed at a nut growers’ gathering, these represent the ongoing grassroots effort to restore a giant of our forests.

ornamentally and ecologically, american chestnut is unmatched. its long, glossy leaves are deeply serrated and turn golden in fall. in summer, catkin blooms hum with pollinators, and in autumn the trees produce burrs filled with rich, sweet nuts — long considered among the finest chestnuts in flavor. deer, turkeys, bears, and squirrels depend on them, and people roasted them by the bushel.

planting american chestnut is both an act of restoration and of faith. these seedlings will grow into tall, handsome trees, carrying forward the hope that chestnut may once again claim its place in our landscapes.

planting notes

• height: 70–100 ft (potentially taller)

• soil: prefers well-drained, acidic soils; not tolerant of poorly drained clays

• light: full sun

• fall color: golden yellow

• growth: fast for an oak-like tree; long-lived in blight-free conditions

• wildlife: nuts for deer, turkeys, squirrels, and bears; catkins support pollinators