Sweet chestnut
Castanea sativa
HighClimax
Fast biomassProduction
A dual-purpose giant — chestnuts from the mature tree, durable poles from the coppice. It demands acidic, well-drained soil though, and will sulk or die on limestone.
Tolerances & traits
- Strata
- High
- Lifecycle
- Climax
- Soil preference
- Sandy, Loam
- Soil pH range
- 4.5 – 6.5
- Min. temperature
- -25°C
- Min. rainfall
- 700 mm/year
- Wind tolerance
- Medium
- Frost tolerance
- High
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Irrigation needed
- Medium
How to manage it
Superb dual-purpose nut and coppice tree — coppices vigorously for durable poles and firewood while mature standards crop nuts; thin regrowth to a few strong stems.
Watch out for
Needs acidic, well-drained soil and fails on chalk or heavy clay. Needs cross-pollination (plant 2+ trees). Watch for chestnut blight and ink disease.
Design your line to see how your land fits Sweet chestnut.
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