Sweet Chestnut, Castanea, Burrs early October 2023

Sweet chestnut trees are a majestic species, native to southern Europe, Asia Minor, and northern Africa. These long-lived trees produce edible nuts and durable timber.

Their distinctive features include a broad crown, grey-purple bark, and oblong leaves with toothed edges. In the autumn, they produce prickly seed burrs containing two to three nuts each.

Sweet chestnuts are a good source of carbohydrates, fiber, and vitamins. Their wood is used for fencing, decking, and other outdoor applications, as it does not rot quickly.

These trees are also important for wildlife, providing food and habitat for a variety of animals.

Sweet chestnut trees are a beautiful and valuable addition to any landscape. They are relatively easy to care for and can tolerate a wide range of soil and climatic conditions.

We have a number of different varieties, but the below is just a snapshot of just a few. There is approx 3 to 4 weeks before the nuts are mature and will start dropping. I have tried to include images of leaves, for comparison with different Castanea species.

For ref please checkout https://tacf.org/identification/ and also https://www.canadianchestnutcouncil.ca/index.cfm?page=ChestnutID

This shows a Castanea Satvia seedling, not producing any sizeable burrs, and they will have virtually no nuts. However the amount of burrs on a tree can be quite high.

Important and ancient cultivar of chestnut renowned in the area of Campora di Neviano degli Arduini (PR) in Italy – Tasty and versatile. High quality brown. Many varieties are named from the locality of just one selected tree in a forest.

Marsol (Regal) is a cross between a European chestnut (Castanea sativa) and Japanese (Castanea crenata). Try and check the leaves. All Castanea species cross with each other easily. This variety is a heavy cropper and quite healthy.

This a Turkish variety believed to be a sativa hybrid. It is grown in the İnegöl-Esenköy region. Fruits are almost round, the shell is thin, dark and shiny. The interior is cream coloured. an most productive variety.

 

THis is of French origin, medium sized nuts that are late ripening, and of very good flavour.

Supposedly resitant to Chestnut Blight. Grown in the Ardèche/Borne region of France. Reddish brown colour nuts that are of medium size.

The chestnut ‘Stone Moor’ is an upright-growing deciduous tree that can reach a height of up to 10 meters. It prefers a sunny location on a deep, fresh, soft and slightly acidic soil. From October to November, the chestnuts are harvested.

This variety can be grown in less favorable conditions. It is fertile, fruits are medium large and very sweet. Variety is very reliable.

A modern selection in 1991. The variety blooms very late, thus totally excludes damage by late spring frosts. It is wind-pollinated, annually produces a richly. The harvest of mature trees ranging up to 80 kg. The fruits are large.

Sweet Chestnut Precoce Migoule

A cross between a European chestnut (Castanea sativa) and a Japanese chestnut (Castanea crenata). Hardy to -28 Deg C. It is an early ripening variety – great for northern climates where late ripening varieties can get damaged by frost – a very dependable producer in cool regions.