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Castanea sativa

Castanea sativa

Sweet chestnut, Spanish chestnut

synonym Castanea vesca

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

Get to know Ebben Nurseries

Visit our nurseries with multi-stem trees, climbing trees, trees for avenues and parks characteristic trees and solitary shrubs.

Make an appointment

Place order or further information?

Order this plant? Or would you like further information about Castanea sativa? Make an appointment for a detailed planting recommendation.
Call +31(0) 485 31 20 21 or email one of our advisors directly.
Our planting advisors

Photos

Magnify

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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Winter hardiness zone
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Coastal area
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Use
Location
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Pavement
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Host plant/forage plant
OK
Planting concepts
OK
Types of planting
Tree types
OK
Multi-stemmed trees
OK
Crown structure
OK
Crown shape
OK
Topiary on stem
OK
Topiary
OK
Height
m
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m
OK
Width
m
-
m
OK
Aspects
Wind
OK
Soil
OK
Nutrient level
OK
Soil moisture level
OK
Light requirements
OK
PH range
OK
Extreme environments
OK
Stage of succession
OK
Plant characteristics
Flowering period
January
-
December
OK
Flower colour
OK
Leaf colour
OK
Autumn colour
OK
Fruit colour
OK
Bark colour
OK
Special features
OK
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