American Chestnut
Castanea dentata
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
iNaturalist: © kylejones (iNaturalist #2932353)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fagaceae
- Genus:
- Castanea
- Species:
- Castanea dentata
- USDA Symbol:
- CADE12
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 3000 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
- Food Forest:
- Contains edible parts
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★★★ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Acronicta lithospila, Alcoholic Plagodis (Plagodis alcoolaria), American Dagger Moth (Acronicta americana), Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris), black-dotted leaftier moth (Psilocorsis cryptolechiella), Brown-tail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea), California oakworm (Phryganidia californica), Cameraria bethunella, Cameraria castaneaeella, Chain-lined geometer moth (Cingilia catenaria), Chestnut clearwing (Synanthedon castaneae), Chinquapin leafminer moth (Dyseriocrania griseocapitella), Cinnamon Tussock Moth (Dasychira cinnamomea), Coleophora leucochrysella, Colocasia propinquilinea, common tan wave (Pleuroprucha insulsaria), contracted datana (Datana contracta), Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidoides), Curve-toothed geometer (Eutrapela clemataria), Dead-wood Borer Moth (Scolecocampa liburna), Dichomeris ligulella, Dichomeris ventrella (Dichomeris ventrella), elm spanworm moth (Ennomos subsignaria), fall cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria), Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), false prominent (Schizura leptinoides), friendly probole (Probole amicaria), Frosted Dagger Moth (Acronicta hastulifera), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Hickory Tussock Moth (Lophocampa caryae), Horned Spanworm (Nematocampa resistaria), Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis), Limbata angle moth (Nematocampa limbata), Luna moth (Actias luna), Maple spanworm (Ennomos magnaria), Melissopus latiferreanus, Mottled Prominent (Macrurocampa marthesia), Nason's slug moth (Natada nasoni), oak leaftier moth (Psilocorsis quercicella), Obtuse Euchlaena (Euchlaena obtusaria), Old Wife Underwing (Catocala palaeogama), orange besma (Besma endropiaria), Orange-tipped oakworm moth (Anisota senatoria), ovate dagger moth (Acronicta ovata), Peppered Moth (Biston betularia), Phyllonorycter kearfottella, Phyllonorycter restrictella, Pink-striped oakworm moth (Anisota virginiensis), Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), red oak clearwing borer (Paranthrene simulans), Sabulodes caberata, Saddled Prominent (Heterocampa guttivitta), sharp-lined tussock moth (Dasychira dorsipennata), southern tussock moth (Dasychira meridionalis), spotted oakworm moth (Anisota stigma), Spring cankerworm (Paleacrita vernata), Stigmella castaneaefoliella, Stigmella latifasciella, Swammerdamia caesiella, tentoriferella (Machimia tentoriferella), Tetracis crocallata, White-headed Symmerista (Symmerista albifrons), White-lined leafroller (Amorbia humerosana), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), witch hazel dagger moth (Acronicta hamamelis), Yellownecked caterpillar (Datana ministra), Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), hickory hairstreak (Satyrium caryaevorum), Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Common eastern (Bombus impatiens) Moths:Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris), Coptotriche castaneaeella, Coptotriche citrinipennella, green oak slug moth (Parasa chloris), Neurobathra strigifinitella, Phyllonorycter kearfottella, Stigmella castaneaefoliella, Stigmella Schrank
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, deer, bear, turkey
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from the root collar after top-kill by fire or chestnut blight; historically part of fire-influenced Appalachian forests.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers deep soils with good fertility
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Seeds lose viability quickly if allowed to dry; best sown fresh in fall or stratified cold-moist immediately after collection.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seed is floated in water to determine viability. Seed that floats is discarded, while the seed that sinks is retained for planting.
Source: npn.rngr.net