American chestnut, American sweet chestnut
It is a temperate plant. It is native to eastern North America. It can grow on a variety of sites. It does best on well drained sands and gravels. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.
Edible Portion
- Nuts, Seeds
Where does American chestnut grow?
Found in: Australia, Canada, North America, Taiwan, United States
Notes: All Castanea bear edible nuts. There are about 12 Castanea species. It has been badly affected by chestnut blight (Cyphonectria parasitica).
Growing American chestnut, American sweet chestnut
Cultivation: Plants can be grown from seed. Seedlings need transplanting very early. It can also be grown by layering.
Edible Uses: The nuts are eaten raw or roasted. They can be pureed and added to stuffings or bread. The roasted nuts can be used as a coffee substitute. The kernels have also been used as a chocolate substitute.
Production: Production has been seriously affected by chestnut blight Endothia parasitica.
Nutrition Info
per 100g edible portionEdible Part | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Iron (mg) | Vitamin A (ug) | Vitamin c (mg) | Zinc (mg) | % Water |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nuts | - | - | - | - | - | - |
References
Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database."http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
Bianchini, F., Corbetta, F., and Pistoia, M., 1975, Fruits of the Earth. Cassell. p 190
Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 224
Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 235
Coombes, A.J., 2000, Trees. Dorling Kindersley Handbooks. p 149
Duke, J.A., 1992, Handbook of Edible Weeds. CRC Press. p 64
Etherington, K., & Imwold, D., (Eds), 2001, Botanica's Trees & Shrubs. The illustrated A-Z of over 8500 trees and shrubs. Random House, Australia. p 188
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 114
Farrar, J.L., 1995, Trees of the Northern United States and Canada. Iowa State University press/Ames p 270
FAO, 1995, Edible Nuts. Non Wood Forest Products 5.
Flowerdew, B., 2000, Complete Fruit Book. Kyle Cathie Ltd., London. p 200
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 174
Kiple, K.F. & Ornelas, K.C., (eds), 2000, The Cambridge World History of Food. CUP p 1751
Little, E.L., 1980, National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees. Alfred A. Knopf. p 377
Lyle, S., 2006, Discovering fruit and nuts. Land Links. p 117
MacKinnon, A., et al, 2009, Edible & Medicinal Plants of Canada. Lone Pine. p 60
Menninger, E.A., 1977, Edible Nuts of the World. Horticultural Books. Florida p 13
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Smith, P.M., 1979, Chestnut, in Simmonds, N.W., (ed), Crop Plant Evolution. Longmans. London. p 307
Theor. prakt. Handb. Forstbot. 1:741. 1800
Wickens, G.E., 1995, Edible Nuts. FAO Non-wood forest products. FAO, Rome. p 21, 123
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew