Castanea sativa

Castanea sativa Details

Commonly known as the Chestnut, this is a medium-sized, deciduous tree grown for its nuts and tidy form. Showy clusters of cream-green flowers in summer result in tasty nuts in autumn which are encased in a prickly husk. They are borne amidst the lush, mid-green foliage which develops yellow tones in autumn before falling. It initially grows with a conical shape then broadens as is reaches 18 m tall and 10 m wide. Best performance with this tree is achieved when it is planted in full sun on a well-drained, semi-sheltered site. It is tolerant of short periods of dry, frost, and cool climates. This tree makes a lovely specimen tree with the added advantage of tasty nuts. It also suits avenue planting.