Castanea sativa - chestnut (Forest honeycomb)

Genus of about 12 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, native to the woods of southern Europe, Asia, America and northern Africa. Castanea sativa is a large deciduous tree that can reach a height of 30 m. Chestnut trees are very long-lived trees, they can become multi-millennial. The stem is columnar, of considerable size with a smooth and shiny grey-brown bark. The leaves are alternate, large, can reach 20 cm in length and 10 cm in width, they are lanceolate with a light green serrated margin. The flowers are unisexual, small and whitish in color. The fruit is an achene, called chestnut, edible. The achenes are contained individually or in groups of three within spiny sheaths, the Ricci.

Pedoclimatic needs

A demanding tree, it prefers soils containing potassium and phosphorus and well rich in humus. It grows in soils with neutral or moderately acidic pH while it absolutely does not tolerate clayey soils or soils subject to water stagnation. A heliophilous species, it prefers partial shade and tolerates cold climates very well, withstanding temperatures down to -23° C.

Botanical Information

Botanical Name: Castanea sativa

Family: Fagaceae