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Posted: 4/7/2024 6:10:11 PM EDT
[Last Edit: governmentman]
Edit: If this does get confirmed as a real american chestnut, I'll do a separate thread for nut requests in the fall. I don't want to start a list now given I don't know for certain what I have, and it will be months before I have nuts to send.
edit 2: Looks like I probably do have an American chestnut, with my in-laws next door having two big European chestnuts. Any nuts would grow be a hybrid of the two because of cross pollination. Something to keep in mind) I've been clearing a clump of brush on our property that is horribly overgrown with poison ivy and other vines. Nasty stuff. In the center of it is a very big and half dead tree. This weekend I finally cleared away enough brush to get to the tree, and realized it is a very big and old chestnut. Several limbs are dead, but the old fella is still alive and healthy enough to be cranking out nuts (the ground around it is littered with them and there are a few stragglers still on branches). Tree with my six year old son for scale. Definitely an old tree.  Attached FileI am wondering if it is a surviving American chestnut for three reasons. 1) the leaves seem closer to that (though hard to tell since they are dry and crumbling). Definitely not any of the asian chestnuts. The spikes on the edges of the leaves are more hooked / inward curving than the internet says I'd see on a European.  Attached File2) age and location. This tree is in the middle of a field that has been farmed since the 1890s. My in-laws have been farming it for four generations. My FiL remembers the tree as large and mature when he was a young boy, and he's in his late 60's. The guess is it is well over 100 years old, so predating Chestnut Blight wiping out almost all the chestnuts. I really would not expect fairly poor farmers in rural PA to obtain and plant a european chestnut in the middle of their field at a time when american chestnuts were still everywhere. 3) It's not a healthy tree and from the number of long dead branches, it's been struggling for decades. There are signs of what my absolutely-not-an-expert eye kind of thinks of as blight damage. My guess is this old fella has been fighting blight for a very long time and hasn't lost yet. Reddish cracking on some of the newer growth:  Attached FileSo I know very little about trees - a boy scout I ain't - what does Arf think? |
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Posted: 4/7/2024 6:11:31 PM EDT
[#1]
subbed for updates.
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Posted: 4/7/2024 6:15:53 PM EDT
[#2]
Good post, followed
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Posted: 4/7/2024 6:17:44 PM EDT
[#3]
Subscribed for future awesomeness.
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Posted: 4/7/2024 6:19:25 PM EDT
[#4]
Ost.
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OH, USA
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Posted: 4/7/2024 6:21:03 PM EDT
[#5]
It sure looks like American Chestnut. I bet the original tree was huge.
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Posted: 4/7/2024 6:26:02 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Mauritius]
[#6]
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Posted: 4/7/2024 6:37:14 PM EDT
[#7]
That is pretty cool. Let us know if its confirmed to be an American chestnut tree.
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WI, USA
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Posted: 4/7/2024 6:40:37 PM EDT
[#8]
Cut it down and make $$$
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Posted: 4/7/2024 6:42:46 PM EDT
[#9]
It may very well be an American, there are still millions out there. Generally they don't survive to maturity tho. You can still aquire American Chestnuts as part of different projects.
Unfortunately the project to develop a blight resistant American Chestnut just failed at the end of last year. Rather than a hybrid, they took a true American Chestnut and inserted a wheat gene that detoxifies the oxalic acid the blight produces. Unfortunately it turns out they made a mix up, probably 10 years ago, and the tree they started with wasn't the right tree. |
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Posted: 4/7/2024 6:47:49 PM EDT
[#10]
Under a spreading chestnut-tree
The village smithy stands; The smith, a mighty man is he, With large and sinewy hands; And the muscles of his brawny arms Are strong as iron bands. |
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Posted: 4/7/2024 6:48:22 PM EDT
[#11]
Following.
Either way it’s pretty cool the family has kept the land all these years. |
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Posted: 4/7/2024 6:48:47 PM EDT
[Last Edit: governmentman]
[#12]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By DaveM4K: It sure looks like American Chestnut. I bet the original tree was huge. From what my FiL says, it might have always been multiple trunks splitting out from the base. It's how he remembers it 60+ years ago, and it was pretty big then. Eager to get a look at fresh leaves in a month or so |
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Posted: 4/7/2024 6:52:17 PM EDT
[#13]
In for the answer.
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Posted: 4/7/2024 6:57:03 PM EDT
[#14]
Chestnut is a beautiful wood. I have a c1900 bookcase with glass doors made of Chestnut. It's a family piece that survived a fire. Rehabbed it and it looks great.
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Posted: 4/7/2024 7:14:54 PM EDT
[#15]
Do you have any pictures of the nuts?
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Posted: 4/7/2024 7:20:06 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Cypselus: Do you have any pictures of the nuts? I do. |
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Posted: 4/7/2024 7:25:58 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Scrote: I do. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Scrote: Originally Posted By Cypselus: Do you have any pictures of the nuts? I do. same |
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Posted: 4/7/2024 7:28:35 PM EDT
[#18]
If it is, I will buy as many nuts as you can spare.
Been wanting these as long as I can remember. |
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Posted: 4/7/2024 7:29:28 PM EDT
[#19]
Tagged for pictures of OP’s nuts.
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Posted: 4/7/2024 7:31:05 PM EDT
[#20]
It looks just like the sweet chestnut tree that I had, but I'm no expert. I'd bet @FredMan would know.
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Posted: 4/7/2024 7:31:10 PM EDT
[Last Edit: arowneragain]
[#21]
@Fredman
Sigh beat by five second. |
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Posted: 4/7/2024 7:32:42 PM EDT
[#22]
That's pretty awesome.
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BHS
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Posted: 4/7/2024 7:42:25 PM EDT
[#23]
Are you able to make clones of that tree before something happens to it?
Cool thread OP. |
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Posted: 4/7/2024 7:47:00 PM EDT
[#24]
Tag, a surviving American chestnut would be cool.
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Posted: 4/7/2024 7:48:51 PM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By HappyCamel: It may very well be an American, there are still millions out there. Generally they don't survive to maturity tho. You can still aquire American Chestnuts as part of different projects. Unfortunately the project to develop a blight resistant American Chestnut just failed at the end of last year. Rather than a hybrid, they took a true American Chestnut and inserted a wheat gene that detoxifies the oxalic acid the blight produces. Unfortunately it turns out they made a mix up, probably 10 years ago, and the tree they started with wasn't the right tree. Sounds like a nice little scam 
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Posted: 4/7/2024 7:49:09 PM EDT
[#26]
It’s an American Chestnut for sure. I’ve got a few like that on a property in Georgia. They aren’t exactly rare but not nearly as common as most American species.
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Posted: 4/7/2024 7:50:16 PM EDT
[#27]
I have a chestnut orchard and I could not say for sure if it American Chestnut or not.
We have alot of very old chestnut trees around here and they are mostly Chinese or European but there is a few Americans. There is a registry of American Chestnut trees and most survivors are in that registry. If it turns out to be American they will ask you to get it in the registry but alot of people don't because they don't want strangers wandering around their property. You will have to make a decision. For reference these leaves are Chinse hybrids in my orchard.  Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 4/7/2024 7:51:21 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By sywagon: That's pretty awesome. Damn right it is. |
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Posted: 4/7/2024 7:51:51 PM EDT
[#29]
It would really suck if poison ivy was the savior of that tree and you cut it all down.
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Posted: 4/7/2024 7:55:40 PM EDT
[#30]
It gets more interesting.
My FiL came by a bit ago to drop off my son (who was spending some time helping him this afternoon). Mentioned that I do see signs of blight on that tree, which is a shame. He said at least the other two are healthy. Other two? Turns out there are two slightly younger, but still big, chestnuts on his side of the old farm. Went to check them out. Big (six year old again for scale) and no sign of blight.  Attached FileNuts for those who asked.  Attached File |
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Posted: 4/7/2024 7:57:06 PM EDT
[#31]
Subscribed for resolution.
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Posted: 4/7/2024 7:57:19 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By aeroworksxp: Sounds like a nice little scam Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By aeroworksxp: Originally Posted By HappyCamel: It may very well be an American, there are still millions out there. Generally they don't survive to maturity tho. You can still aquire American Chestnuts as part of different projects. Unfortunately the project to develop a blight resistant American Chestnut just failed at the end of last year. Rather than a hybrid, they took a true American Chestnut and inserted a wheat gene that detoxifies the oxalic acid the blight produces. Unfortunately it turns out they made a mix up, probably 10 years ago, and the tree they started with wasn't the right tree. Sounds like a nice little scam |
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Posted: 4/7/2024 7:57:52 PM EDT
[#33]
OST
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Posted: 4/7/2024 7:58:35 PM EDT
[Last Edit: 14BoltFF]
[#34]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By PikeSlayer: Cut it down and make $$$ Some asshole saw mine (about 8" diameter trunk) and decided to do just that a couple of years ago.  OP, that is cool as hell! The chestnut people who track them will be happy to hear about it! 
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Posted: 4/7/2024 8:01:11 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By governmentman: It gets more interesting. My FiL came by a bit ago to drop off my son (who was spending some time helping him this afternoon). Mentioned that I do see signs of blight on that tree, which is a shame. He said at least the other two are healthy. Other two? Turns out there are two slightly younger, but still big, chestnuts on his side of the old farm. Went to check them out. Big (six year old again for scale) and no sign of blight. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/329177/IMG20240407190024_-_Copy_jpg-3181488.JPG Nuts for those who asked. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/329177/IMG20240407185951_-_Copy_jpg-3181490.JPG 
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Posted: 4/7/2024 8:09:20 PM EDT
[#36]
Holy shit that is a massive poison ivy vine
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NC, USA
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Posted: 4/7/2024 8:12:38 PM EDT
[#37]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By sandblaster: Good post, followed |
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ND, USA
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Posted: 4/7/2024 8:13:27 PM EDT
[#38]
This is cool. If it’s an American chestnut producing you should email the researchers. I’m sure they would like to get more genetic material of surviving chestnut trees. Especially those that have resisted the blight.
I was checking my land last summer and found an American Elm that is thriving and didn’t get the Dutch Elm disease. It’s producing lots of offspring that are surviving too. I spoke with one of the Forest Service guys and he said eventually the American Elm will return and be resistant to DED. Just going to take several generations. |
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Posted: 4/7/2024 8:13:39 PM EDT
[#39]
Can anything be done for the blight?
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Posted: 4/7/2024 8:18:23 PM EDT
[#40]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Mauritius: Found this. They can help with identification and such. https://tacf.org/ Definitely contact this group, there might be interest in your tree, especially if it's producing nuts. I'd love a bag of viable nuts to plant here, they'd look great with my burr oaks. |
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TN, USA
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Posted: 4/7/2024 8:18:32 PM EDT
[#41]
Co worker of mine has one on his place lookout mtn ga local college groups come and check it out
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Posted: 4/7/2024 8:20:35 PM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By mississippiflush: Holy shit that is a massive poison ivy vine Tree was absolutely getting murdered by it. I cut half a dozen that were thicker than my wrist. It was bad enough that I wonder which was killing it more limbs , the blight or getting choked out by ivy |
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NC, USA
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Posted: 4/7/2024 8:24:00 PM EDT
[#43]
If it is American, there is a good chance that it died eons ago and those are the suckers that popped out of the trunk and reached some maturity.
And that is some heinous poison ivy. |
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Posted: 4/7/2024 8:24:16 PM EDT
[#44]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By AeroE: Definitely contact this group, there might be interest in your tree, especially if it's producing nuts. I'd love a bag of viable nuts to plant here, they'd look great with my burr oaks. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By AeroE: Originally Posted By Mauritius: Found this. They can help with identification and such. https://tacf.org/ Definitely contact this group, there might be interest in your tree, especially if it's producing nuts. I'd love a bag of viable nuts to plant here, they'd look great with my burr oaks. I'll be sending leaf samples to them for identification once leaves are on. If they are the real deal, I'll happily share nuts, especially since the two on my FiL's side seem blight free. |
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MI, USA
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Posted: 4/7/2024 8:25:04 PM EDT
[#45]
This is really cool!
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Posted: 4/7/2024 8:26:52 PM EDT
[#46]
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Posted: 4/7/2024 8:31:42 PM EDT
[#47]
Pretty cool. I got a few Dunstan Chestnuts planted in my yard. I think I have 1 pure chestnut also, I got it awhile ago with no info and it looks purebred by the leaves, and just like the ones pictured.
My mom and dad's house is built in the mid 1800s and most of the beams were walnut or chestnut. Most of the tonque and groove floors were chestnut. I got a few pieces that I need to build something out of it. |
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Posted: 4/7/2024 8:36:08 PM EDT
[Last Edit: arowneragain]
[#48]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Jerret_S: Pretty cool. I got a few Dunstan Chestnuts planted in my yard. I think I have 1 pure chestnut also, I got it awhile ago with no info and it looks purebred by the leaves, and just like the ones pictured. My mom and dad's house is built in the mid 1800s and most of the beams were walnut or chestnut. Most of the tonque and groove floors were chestnut. I got a few pieces that I need to build something out of it. I have several dozen hybrid chestnuts on our farm. Hoping they bear fruit in 3-5 more years. Eta: but I don’t know the differences in leaf or tree between hybrids and originals well enough to tell OP what he has. |
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WA, USA
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Posted: 4/7/2024 8:47:52 PM EDT
[#49]
Not to sound edgy , but what's the big deal about a possible American Chestnut tree ?
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NC, USA
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Posted: 4/7/2024 8:53:06 PM EDT
[#50]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Scrote: I do. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Scrote: Originally Posted By Cypselus: Do you have any pictures of the nuts? I do. Username checks out! |
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Attached File