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Castanea sativa

Castanea sativa

Sweet chestnut, Spanish chestnut

synonym Castanea vesca

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Description

Castanea sativa (Sweet Chestnut) is a large, deciduous tree, native to the South of Europe, Asia Minor, Caucasus and North-Iran, and introduced to the rest of Europe. Naturally it is occurring on seasonally humid hillsides, although it can be quite adaptable to dry conditions. In its native range it grows together with Quercus frainetto, Ostrya carpinifolia and Carpinus orientalis. Described in 1768 by the English botanist, Philip Miller. Develops a large, rounded, subglobose crown to twenty five metres wide and thirty metres high. Mature specimens can reach a very old age.

Castanea sativa is a monoecious tree: the male flowers are long, creamy white catkins with a peculiar odour in June-July, while the female inconspicuous flowers are developing in globular and very prickly fruits. The nuts are falling during October and can be harvested by humans or eaten by birds and small mammals. The leaves of the sweet chestnut are oblonged, coarsely toothed on the edges, shiny green most of the season, than turning beautiful yellow-rusty brown during autumn. The sweet chestnut can develop a single trunk which could get enormous if its left on its own for centuries. The bark is beautiful grey and smooth on young trees, but will get characteristic twisting fissures that will make this tree even more dramatic.

The sweet chestnut is only suitable for large parks, gardens, estates and countryside where there is lots of space to develop into a majestic specimen. Only acidic, light loamy soils are suitable for it to grow happily. Heat is tolerated and drought moderately. This tree has an amazing shared history with human civilization and it has been used for centuries for multiple purposes.

Types of planting

Tree types

standard trees half-stem trees multi-stemmed trees trees for climbing shade trees characteristic trees fruit trees woodland planting stock

Topiary on stem

fval vase fval multi-stem umbrella

Use

Location

park central reservation roof garden large garden cemetery countryside ecological zone

Pavement

none none

Planting concepts

food forest eco planting landscape planting prairie planting

Characteristics

Crown shape

rounded rounded flattened spherical flattened spherical

Crown structure

dense dense

Height

25 - 30 m

Width

20 - 25 m

Winter hardiness zone

6A - 11B

Aspects

Wind

tolerant to wind

Soil

loess sabulous clay light clay sand loamy soil

Nutrient level

rich in nutrients

Soil moisture level

moist

Light requirements

sun partial shade

pH range

acidic neutral

Host plant/forage plant

bees butterflies birds small mammals humans nectar value 5 pollen value 5

Extreme environments

tolerant to dryness

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Order this plant? Or would you like further information about Castanea sativa? Make an appointment for a detailed planting recommendation.
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Photos

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high-stem standard tree
Castanea sativa standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Castanea sativa standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Castanea sativa standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Castanea sativa standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Castanea sativa standard tree
multi-stem multi-stem
Castanea sativa multi-stem
multi-stem multi-stem
Castanea sativa multi-stem
multi-stem multi-stem
Castanea sativa multi-stem
multi-stem multi-stem
Castanea sativa multi-stem
multi-stem multi-stem
Castanea sativa multi-stem
flowers flowers
Castanea sativa flowers
flowers flowers
Castanea sativa flowers
flowers flowers
Castanea sativa flowers
flowers flowers
Castanea sativa flowers
leaves leaves
Castanea sativa leaves
leaves leaves
Castanea sativa leaves
fruits fruits
Castanea sativa fruits
fruits fruits
Castanea sativa fruits
fruits fruits
Castanea sativa fruits
fruits fruits
Castanea sativa fruits
fruits fruits
Castanea sativa fruits
fruits fruits
Castanea sativa fruits
bark bark
Castanea sativa bark
bark bark
Castanea sativa bark
bark bark
Castanea sativa bark
bark bark
Castanea sativa bark
twigs twigs
Castanea sativa twigs
twigs twigs
Castanea sativa twigs
twigs twigs
Castanea sativa twigs
twigs twigs
Castanea sativa twigs
twigs twigs
Castanea sativa twigs
twigs twigs
Castanea sativa twigs

Flowers

Flowers

catkins striking

Flower colour

cream-yellow

Flowering period

June - July

Leaves

Leaf colour

buds bronze green

Leaves

deciduous lanceolate big polished dentate

Autumn colour

yellow

Fruits

Fruit colour

brown green

Fruits

striking edible large husk

Bark

Bark colour

grey

Bark

furrowed

Twigs

Twig colour

red-brown

Twigs

bare

Root system

Root system

deep extensive

For and by green professionals

The TreeEbb is a platform for and by green professionals, in which we collect knowledge and experience from the sector and make this available for users. All the details and photos are free to use for non-commercial purposes. Want to share your tree knowledge? Send photographs and additional information to treeebb@ebben.nl

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Wind
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Soil
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Extreme environments
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Winter hardiness

A plant's winter hardiness is the coldest area in which it is frost-resistant. This is based on the average annual minimum temperature. Winter hardiness zones are thirteen different frost zones in steps of 5.5 degrees Celsius. This format is an international standard for the hardiness of plants. The zones in which the plant is frost-resistant are always included in the description of trees and other vegetation.

Winter hardiness is a genetic characteristic and is not influenced by the location in which the plant is cultivated. This means that a plant that has been cultivated for many years in winter-hardiness zone 6 but has a winter hardiness of 3 is perfectly suited for replanting in a colder zone. It will thrive there thanks to its genetic characteristics.

When choosing planting for a project, the winter hardiness of the plants is extremely important. By choosing species that match the zone in which the project is being created, it is possible to ensure that plants can withstand the minimum temperature in that area.

Winter hardiness map
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E info@ebben.nl

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