American Chestnut
Castanea dentata
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American Chestnut - #3 Container 2-3 Feet is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.
This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping
To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.
Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.
Standard Shipping Rates
At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.
| From | To | S&H |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $19.99 | $24.99 |
| $20 | $49.99 | $29.99 |
| $50 | $69.99 | $34.99 |
| $70 | $99.99 | $39.99 |
| $100 | $129.99 | $44.99 |
| $130 | $149.99 | $48.99 |
| $150 | $150+ | Approx 28% |
Click here to see our full rates
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!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateFast
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Flower Color
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Fall Color
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Pollinator Friendly
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Pollinator Required
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Fragrant
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodSummer
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Harvest Time
Growing Zones 5 - 8
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!
