American Chestnut

Castanea dentata

$109⁹⁹

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Plant Size

Product variants

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Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Highlights

American Chestnut highlights at a glance!

Brand

Nature Hills' Choice
Botanical Name

Castanea dentata
Growing Zones

5, 6, 7, 8
Mature Height

60 - 85 Feet
Mature Spread

50 - 75 Feet
Sun Exposure

Full Sun
Moisture

Medium
Soil

Well Drained Soil
Growth Rate

Fast
Fall Color

Brown
Pollinator Required

Yes
Pruning Time

After Flowering
Bloom Period

Summer
Harvest Time

Late Season

Growing Zones 5 - 8

Find Your Growing Zone!

Grow a legendary icon and native legacy when you order the American Chestnut Tree (Castanea dentata)! Once the dominant tree throughout Eastern forests, the Chestnut almost went extinct in 1904 due to an imported fungus. Planting one in your landscape brings this majestic tree back to today's boulevards and gardens!

Summer lights up your tree with long, fuzzy catkins in unique clusters of showy white flowers, standing tall at the ends of every branch! The display attracts a wide range of pollinators and Host Plant to their larvae! Fall brings unique green spikey seed pods, each with glossy, easy-to-peel, chestnut brown nuts.

The nuts of the American Chestnut are edible, crunchy, and sweet! Roast these nuts for a tasty seasonal treat in the late-season months of September and October, and sometimes into November. Freeze the nuts for a long time, freshly roasted nuts should be eaten soon and can be stored in the fridge for a few weeks.

Featuring leaves with prominent veins, a smooth surface, and a leathery texture so they will not get damaged in storms or wind. The coarsely-toothed margins of the foliage add incredible interest!

Hardy throughout USDA growing zones 5 to 8, these mighty deciduous trees grow 60-85 feet in height and 50-75 feet in width. This broad range in sizes is due to the native variance, growing zone, and climate conditions.

Planting and Application:

The American Chestnut is a great street tree and shade tree! Use a single specimen in your landscape as a lawn tree, a focal point, and a majestic wildlife sanctuary! You'll enjoy the shade these statuesque native trees provide while creating stunning Bird-Friendly backdrops and borders.

These legacy trees are long-lived and ideal memorial plantings! Mark a birthday, an anniversary or a wedding tree planting ceremony, or memorialize a loved one who has passed with a majestic tree to remember them by.

You'll love the benefits your own Nut tree orchard can provide you and your wildlife! Cooling shade lowers AC bills and protects your lawn, garden, and seating areas from the harshest of the summer sun! Stop lawn furniture and siding from fading and protect your home from prevailing winds with these sturdy trees situated in the right spot!

The American Chestnut is not entirely self-pollinating and does best with a second tree to produce a crop. Even if a neighbor has one of these trees, you will get a great crop thanks to the bees and wind pollination for successful cross-pollination. Not only does creating groves of Chestnut trees improve pollination, but you'll create a wildlife hotspot!

Clusters of White Fuzzy Blooms for Pollinators
Caterpillar Host Plant for 130 Species of Moth & Butterfly Larvae
Impressive Flowering and Ornamental Foliage
Native, Early Producer of Easy-Peel Nuts
Great Shade, Edible Nut Crops, Wildlife Trees & Lawn Specimens

#ProPlantTips for Care:

American Chestnut Trees need full sun to grow their strongest and prefer rich well-drained soils. These hardy natives are adaptable to most soil types. New trees do best with a regular schedule of water and a 3-4 inch deep layer of mulch around the entire root system. Plant new trees with the life-long symbiotic relationship of Nature Hills Root Booster and regular fertilizer. Prune your tree to correct your tree's shape in the late winter.

Full Sun
Well-Drained Soil & Moderate Moisture Needs
Mulch New Trees Well
Adaptable Hardy Natives
Prune in Late Winter

Beautiful native American Chestnut Trees are making the return to the landscape with their adaptability and hardiness! Order yours today at Nature Hills Nursery and get growing a legacy for you and future generations!