Sweet chestnut
Castanea sativa 路 Fagaceae 路 also Spanish chestnut, European chestnut
A long-lived tree of up to 35 m with spirally fissured bark, long serrated leaves and spiny husks holding edible chestnuts. In southern Europe it is an orchard and coppice tree of enormous cultural importance; in south-east England it has been coppiced for fencing for centuries and is treated as an honorary native though it was introduced, probably by the Romans. Nuts ripen fully only after hot summers.
Where it stands
Adapted
- 馃嚜馃嚫 Spain 路 Introduced per WCVPsource
- 馃嚝馃嚪 France 路 Introduced in antiquity per WCVPsource
- 馃嚞馃嚙 ENG, United Kingdom 路 Non-native, long naturalised and coppiced, especially in Kent and Sussexsource
- 馃嚠馃嚜 Ireland 路 Introduced per WCVPsource
- 馃嚠馃嚬 Italy 路 Introduced in antiquity per WCVP; a major orchard and coppice treesource
Care
Plant in winter on acidic, well-drained soil and water through dry first summers; trees take about 30 years to bear well. Coppice on a 10 to 20 year cycle or prune in winter. Sweet chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) and oriental chestnut gall wasp have arrived in the UK; Phytophthora root rot kills trees on heavy wet soils. Squirrels damage young bark.
Benefits
Good for