Plant Details

Castanea dentata

American Sweet Chestnut

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Castanea dentata.

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Common names

20 names · 19 languages
EnglishYour language
  • American chestnut[1][2]
  • American Sweet Chestnut
Other languages (18)
Dutch
  • Amerikaanse tamme kastanje
French
  • Châtaigne d'Amérique
Afrikaans
  • Amerikaanse kastaiing[2]
Cherokee
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • kaštanovník zubatý[2]
Finnish
  • amerikankastanja[2]
German
  • Amerikanische Kastanie[2]
Hungarian
  • amerikai gesztenye[2]
Italian
  • castagno americano[2]
Japanese
  • アメリカグリ[2]
Portuguese
  • Castanheiro-americano[2]
Russian
  • Каштан зубчатый[2]
Seneca
  • O:nyé’sda’[2]
Slovak
  • gaštan americký[2]
Spanish
  • Castaño americano[2]
Turkish
  • Kuzey Amerika Kestanesi[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Castanea dentata (Marshall) Borkh. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • American chestnut — VernacularName.tsv, line 154479; taxon RNSR.
[2] Castanea dentata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • American chestnut — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 49186; Castanea dentata.
  • Castanheiro-americano — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 49186; Castanea dentata.
  • kaštanovník zubatý — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 49186; Castanea dentata.
  • Amerikanische Kastanie — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 49186; Castanea dentata.
  • アメリカグリ — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 49186; Castanea dentata.
  • O:nyé’sda’ — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 49186; Castanea dentata.
  • 美洲栗 — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 49186; Castanea dentata.
  • 美洲栗 — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 49186; Castanea dentata.
  • castagno americano — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 49186; Castanea dentata.
  • Amerikaanse kastaiing — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 49186; Castanea dentata.
  • Каштан зубчатый — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 49186; Castanea dentata.
  • ᏘᎵ — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 49186; Castanea dentata.
  • amerikai gesztenye — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 49186; Castanea dentata.
  • Kuzey Amerika Kestanesi — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 49186; Castanea dentata.
  • Castaño americano — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 49186; Castanea dentata.
  • amerikankastanja — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 49186; Castanea dentata.
  • gaštan americký — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 49186; Castanea dentata.

General information

Scientific name: Castanea dentata
Accepted name (Kew): Castanea dentata (Marshall) Borkh. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Fagaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Castanea (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: American Sweet Chestnut
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Nut tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 15.24–22.86 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 15.24–22.86 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Broad, Dense, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Seed
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Wood

Description

Seed - raw or cooked. These seeds are small in size but are among the sweetest seeds in this plant genus. They can be dried, ground into powder, and added to grains when baking bread, pastries, and more. Delicious oil can also be extracted from the seeds by crushing them, boiling in water, and skimming the oil off the surface.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/10
Harvest ends: 30/11

Crown

Crown shape: Broad pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 975697; name ID 34916; Castanea Daubenton. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 975760; name ID 34965; Castanea dentata (Marshall) Borkh..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Castanea dentata

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 5135334, ID RNSR: Castanea dentata (Marshall) Borkh. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Castanea dentata — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 75 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 50 ft. 0 in. - 75 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .