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Castanea dentata
  • American Sweet Chestnut

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Castanea genus in the family Fagaceae.

Niche
  • Canopy
    Canopy
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • very acid,acid,neutral
    Very acid to Neutral
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 4
    Zone 4
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Castanea dentata has 0 edible uses listed
Castanea dentata has 0 material uses listed
Castanea dentata has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Seed - raw or cooked[1][2][3][4][5]. Rather on the small side, but these are the sweetest seeds of any species in this genus[6]. The seed contains about 7% fat, 11% protein[7]. It can be dried, ground into powder and then be added to cereals when making bread, cakes etc[8].

A delicious oil can be extracted from the seed by crushing the nuts, boiling them in water and then skimming off the oil as it comes to the surface[8]. It can be used as a topping for various puddings[8].

The roasted nut can be used as a coffee substitute and a chocolate substitute can also be made from it[6] (no further details).

Unknown part

Chocolate
Coffee
Oil

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

The bark is a good source of tannin[9][10][11][12]. The dried leaves contain 9% tannin[8]. The wood and the seed husks also contain tannin[12]. The husks contain 10 - 13% tannin[12].

A brown dye is obtained from the bark[13].

Wood - soft, not strong, light, very durable, liable to warp. It weighs 28lb per cubic foot. Easy to split, it is used for making cheap furniture, fence posts, in construction etc[10][14][5][11][15][16].

Unknown part

Dye
Tannin
Wood

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

A warm water infusion of the leaves has been used to calm the respiratory nerves and promote expectoration[8][13]. The infusion has also been used in the treatment of whooping cough but modern opinion is that the leaves are no more than a mild astringent[8].

Unknown part

Astringent
Expectorant

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Canopy

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - where possible sow the seed as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame or in a seed bed outdoors[17]. The seed must be protected from mice and squirrels. The seed has a short viability and must not be allowed to become dry. It can be stored in a cool place, such as the salad compartment of a fridge, for a few months if it is kept moist, but check regularly for signs of germination. The seed should germinate in late winter or early spring. If sown in an outdoor seedbed, the plants can be left in situ for 1 - 2 years before planting them out in their permanent positions. If grown in pots, the plants can be put out into their permanent positions in the summer or autumn, making sure to give them some protection from the cold in their first winter[K].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Castanea dentata. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Prefers a good well-drained slightly acid loam but succeeds in dry soils and in hot sunny sites[18][19][20][21]. Once established, it is very drought tolerant[19][21]. Very tolerant of highly acid, infertile dry sands[21]. Averse to calcareous soils but succeeds on harder limestones[19][21].

Although it is very winter-hardy, this species only really thrives in areas with hot summers[21]. A tree at Kew in 1985 was 15 metres tall and thriving[19]. At one time widely cultivated in N. America for its edible seed, it is now virtually extinct in the wild due to chestnut blight[19]. There are some named varieties[6]. Trees are possibly becoming resistant, some suckering stands in America are producing fruit[19]. Suckers often reach 4 - 6 metres tall before succumbing to blight, but they rarely manage to produce fruit[15]. An excellent soil-enriching understorey in pine forests[21]. Flowers are produced on wood of the current year's growth[15]. Plants are fairly self-sterile[21]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[21].

Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[21].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Castanea dentata. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Castanea dentata.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Castanea dentata
Genus
Castanea
Family
Fagaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Medicinal uses
[8][13]
Material uses & Functions
[9][10][11][12][8][13][14][5][15][16]
Botanic
[19][22][21]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
4
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
very acid, acid, neutral
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
  • Drought
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
Canopy
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
deciduous
Herbaceous or Woody
woody
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
30 x 15 meters
Fertility
?
Pollinators
Insects
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
monoecious











References

  1. ? 1.01.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.1 Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold ISBN 0442222009 (1982-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.1 Howes. F. N. Nuts. Faber (1948-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.1 Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books ISBN 0-394-72811-4 (1979-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.15.25.3 Rosengarten. jnr. F. The Book of Edible Nuts. Walker & Co. ISBN 0802707699 (1984-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.16.26.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.1 McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press ISBN 0-253-28925-4 (1977-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.48.58.68.78.8 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.1 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
  10. ? 10.010.110.2 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
  11. ? 11.011.111.2 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)
  12. ? 12.012.112.212.3 Rottsieper. E.H.W. Vegetable Tannins The Forestal Land, Timber and Railways Co. Ltd. (1946-00-00)
  13. ? 13.013.113.213.3 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
  14. ? 14.014.1 Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. ISBN 0-486-20278-X (1965-00-00)
  15. ? 15.015.115.215.3 Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0442238622 (1980-00-00)
  16. ? 16.016.1 Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. ISBN 0-486-22642-5 (1970-00-00)
  17. ? Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
  18. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  19. ? 19.019.119.219.319.419.519.6 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
  20. ? Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
  21. ? 21.021.121.221.321.421.521.621.721.821.9 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  22. ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)


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Facts about "Castanea dentata"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyFagaceae +
Belongs to genusCastanea +
Has binomial nameCastanea dentata +
Has common nameAmerican Sweet Chestnut +
Has drought toleranceTolerant +
Has edible partUnknown part + and Seed +
Has edible useChocolate +, Coffee +, Oil + and Unknown use +
Has environmental toleranceDrought +
Has fertility typeInsects +
Has flowers of typeMonoecious +
Has hardiness zone4 +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useDye +, Tannin + and Wood +
Has mature height30 +
Has mature width15 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAstringent + and Expectorant +
Has search namecastanea dentata + and american sweet chestnut +
Has shade toleranceLight shade +
Has soil ph preferenceVery acid +, Acid + and Neutral +
Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
Has taxonomy nameCastanea dentata +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Inhabits ecosystem nicheCanopy +
Is deciduous or evergreenDeciduous +
Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Castanea dentata +, Castanea dentata +, Castanea dentata +, Castanea dentata +, Castanea dentata +, Castanea dentata +, Castanea dentata +, Castanea dentata + and Castanea dentata +