At Cold Stream Farm, we offer our clients a diverse selection of tree seedlings, and other plants—each with their own unique properties that offer something different. One of our all-time favorites is the Chestnut tree, and for that, we have two types available: the American Chestnut, and the Chinese Chestnut.
It is important to understand what makes chestnut trees so unique to determine if they are a good fit for your property.
American Chestnut
Let’s start with the American Chestnut. Generally speaking, chestnuts are on the taller side of the spectrum and American chestnuts are at the top of that list. At full growth, they can reach 100 feet in the air, making them a formidable force wherever they’re planted. Growers should recognize that potential before investing, as a serious factor.
Once grown, their leaves dawn a magnificent green hue, and the bark, a reddish-brown or grey color. The fragrance of the tree is notable, and is a major attraction for insect pollinators. (Which could be great for your flowers!) And of course, they give off edible nuts, better known as chestnuts.
Chinese Chestnut
Shorter than its American counterpart, the Chinese Chestnut species also sprouts chestnuts, which grow inside of spikey burs. These burs eventually fall and split open, which is when the chestnuts are ripe. In terms of differences with American chestnuts, the leaves are more narrow, the nuts are just a tad smaller, and, in general, the Chinese species grows more wide, and spread out.
Another key difference is historic stamina. The American chestnuts saw a major tree-killing disease years ago, and is still recovering in numbers. The Chinese chestnut, however, comes in several blight-resistant varieties, which may be more appealing to certain areas.
To learn more about the Chestnut trees that we offer, contact our staff at Cold Stream Farm today!
