{"product_id":"castanea-dentata-american-chestnut","title":"Castanea dentata (American Chestnut)","description":"\u003cp\u003eA symbol of resilience and a key species in ongoing forest restoration efforts, American chestnut remains critically endangered due to chestnut blight - anyone specifying this species should have a clear conversation with the customer about blight risk and, ideally, source from a blight-resistant breeding program.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecies Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCastanea dentata, the American chestnut, is a large, fast-growing deciduous tree of the beech family native to eastern North America. It is characterized by its serrated, lance-shaped leaves and spiny burs that encase edible chestnuts. Historically, it was a dominant canopy species and a crucial source of timber and food, but its population was devastated by chestnut blight in the early 20th century, which is estimated to have killed between three and four billion trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApplication\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eForest restoration projects, ideally paired with blight-resistant breeding stock\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHistorical\/heritage plantings and conservation-focused landscapes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWildlife habitat - nuts were historically a crucial food source for wildlife\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLarval host habitat for butterflies\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrowing Conditions \/ Specification Data\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full Sun\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\/Moisture Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Well-drained, acidic soils; found historically in both mesic and xeric (dry) forests\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrought Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e High - heat and drought tolerant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlood Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low - An upland forest tree of well-drained slopes and ridges; not documented as flood tolerant.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rapid\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tree\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height:\u003c\/strong\u003e 50-80 ft. historically (surviving stump sprouts typically reach only 15-20 ft. before succumbing to blight again; see flags)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall Color:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yellow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Color \/ Period:\u003c\/strong\u003e Insignificant\/None; July\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWetland Indicator Status:\u003c\/strong\u003e NI (No Indicator)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative Range:\u003c\/strong\u003e Maine and southern Ontario south to Mississippi, Atlantic coast west to the Ohio Valley\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHydrology:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dry-Mesic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRoot Depth:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep (24-36 in.)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSalinity Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDeer Resistance:\u003c\/strong\u003e No (Frequently Damaged)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eShade Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Intermediate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Habit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Multi-stemmed\/Thicket-forming - readily sprouts from old stumps and roots\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Hardiness Zones:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4-8\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePollinator Value:\u003c\/strong\u003e Larval host, supports butterflies\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJuglone Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tolerant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Pinelands Nursery","offers":[{"title":"#2 Container","offer_id":48941175210055,"sku":"CAS-DEN #2","price":21.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0675\/1649\/7991\/files\/Castaneadentata1.jpg?v=1791224640","url":"https:\/\/www.pinelandsnursery.com\/products\/castanea-dentata-american-chestnut","provider":"Pinelands Nursery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}