Extremely Rare

Extremely rare, but they do exist. American Chestnut (Chestanea dentata).

Before 1904, this fast growing, tall tree ruled swaths of eastern US forests. I mention the year 1904 because that is when the chestnut blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) was first discovered at the New York Zoological Gardens. The blight was introduced to the US by accident from East Asia and it nearly wiped out the whole population of these wonderful trees over the course of just a few decades.

It brings great delight to me though, when I find a large American Chestnut tree growing in the woods. They are truly rare but they are out there.

The American Chestnut Foundation is working diligently to develop a tree that will survive. I have great hope that they will see success and again American Chestnuts will survive in great numbers in our woods.