American Chestnut (Castanea dentata)

Three American Chestnut Burrs

August 6, 2026

Years ago I did volunteer work for the Virginia Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation. I learned many things about what has happened to this precious tree, the American chestnut (Castanea dentata), since the blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) was first accidentally introduced to North America in 1904.

Sometime during my years with TACF I was able to get 12 pure American Chestnut seeds which I planted down the hill in front of my cabin. As they sprouted, many of them succumbed to the blight and died. There are still 3 of those trees living, though each one has signs of the fungal disease. Who knows, they may still live for years to come. What will happen in that case, the tree will become more like a bush, unlike what would have been a stately tree. The top portions will die back, but the roots will live on, and with determination send up new sprouts.

Over the past couple years, these 3 have bloomed. Much to my amazement, a couple days ago, I discovered that they have produced 3 American Chestnut burrs!

I am totally delighted!

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

An American Chestnut On The AT

June 17, 2026

Yes, they still do exist in the wild, though it is a rare sight. This is an American Chestnut (Castanea dentata) on Hightop, along the Appalachian Trail. Notice the ocean wave edging. That is one of the key components in identification of this very special tree.

This is just a bit above me, where my mountain becomes Hightop. I like to describe it as my mountain being a bump on Hightop.

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

Waiting For A Chestnut Miracle

October 28, 2025

American Chestnut (Castanea dentata). Once abundant in its native range of the eastern United States, principally in the Appalachian Mountains.

It was at what is now the Bronx Zoo, in the borough of The Bronx, New York City, that the Chestnut Blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) was first discovered in 1904, by 1906 it was estimated that 98 percent of the American Chestnut trees in that borough had been infected.

Today there are very few mature examples of these Chestnut trees surviving in their native range. On rare occasions I see a tree that has been attacked by the blight. Most often the tree will die but the root system will survive to sent up new shoots. This will create a small tree that will repeatedly succumb to the blight and send up new shoots. I have a couple that are doing this here near my cabin. The result of my planting pure American Chestnut burrs.

Scientists have been working on this problem and I’m hoping one of these days they will come up with an answer.

_______________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!

American Chestnut Bur!

Those of you that know me, know that I’m extremely interested in the American Chestnut (Castanea dentata), the blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) that came close to totally wiping out the species, and the work being done by The American Chestnut Foundation.

So you can imagine how surprised I was yesterday afternoon while I was out with my camera, when I spotted an American Chestnut bur!

Though not often seen, American Chestnut trees are still around.

Keep your eyes open. There are all sorts of surprises out there.

________________________________

If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!