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NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Castanea dentata

American Chestnut

Scientific Name:

Castanea dentata

Genus:

Castanea

Species Epithet:

dentata

Common Name:

American Chestnut

Plant Type

Tree

Life Cycle

Perennial

Plant Family

Fagaceae (Beech Family)

Native/Alien:

NC Native

Invasive Status:

(*Key)

Size:

6-12 ft., 12-36 ft.

Bloom Color(s):

White, Yellow, Green

Light:

Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day

Soil Moisture:

Dry, Moist

Bloom Time:

June, July

Growing Area:

Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain

Habitat Description:

Mesic and xeric forests. Common in NC mountains and western piedmont; very rare in coastal plain.
Weakley (2015):“Formerly one of the most important, largest, and most abundant forest trees in the Mountains of our area, C. dentata was severely affected by chestnut blight, Cryphonectria parasitica (Murrill) Barr, introduced at New York City in 1904 on nursery stock of C. mollissima [Chinese Chestnut]. Blight spread steadily southward, reaching our area in the 1920’s and 1930’s. C. dentata remains rather abundant, but now occurs only as stump sprouts and small trees, usually reinfected by blight persisting on oaks and killed at about the size of first fruit production. The accidental introduction of chestnut blight and the subsequent profound alteration of the role of chestnut is one of the most tragic ecological disasters to have affected our area.”

Leaf Arrangement:

Alternate

Leaf Retention:

Deciduous

Leaf Type:

Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like

Leaf Form:

Simple

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Wildlife Value:

Highest Wildlife Value

Landscape Value:

Not Assigned

State Rank:

S4: Apparently secure (*Key)

Global Rank:

G4 - Apparently Secure (*Key)

Notes:

Chinese Chestnut (Castanea mollissima) has been hybridized with American Chestnut in an effort to restore American Chestnut by creating blight resistance.

Strongly and evenly toothed margins along the entire length of the leaves

North Carolina mountains

The Scientific Name is Castanea dentata. You will likely hear them called American Chestnut. This picture shows the Strongly and evenly toothed margins along the entire length of the leaves of Castanea dentata

Bettina Darveaux

Flowering in July

North Carolina mountains

The Scientific Name is Castanea dentata. You will likely hear them called American Chestnut. This picture shows the Flowering in July of Castanea dentata

Bettina Darveaux

Usually not seen this large anymore.

Blue Ridge Parkway, Haywood Co., NC

The Scientific Name is Castanea dentata. You will likely hear them called American Chestnut. This picture shows the Usually not seen this large anymore. of Castanea dentata

Bettina Darveaux

If you look closely, you can see some fruit forming at the end of the branch in the lower right of the photo.

Blue Ridge Parkway, Haywood Co., NC

The Scientific Name is Castanea dentata. You will likely hear them called American Chestnut. This picture shows the If you look closely, you can see some fruit forming at the end of the branch in the lower right of the photo. of Castanea dentata

Bettina Darveaux

Links:

USDA PLANTS Database Record

https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/plant_list.php

https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/castanea/dentata/

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/castanea-dentata/

https://nc.audubon.org/700

https://www.acf.org/



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