Chestnut Background
Chestnut Science Resources
- American Chestnut History
- Native Range Map
- TACF Science Strategies
- TACF Resources
- Student Program
- American Chestnut Tree Identification Resources
- How to Plant Chestnuts
- Penn State Listserv – TACF Grower’s List
- Backcross Breeding Chart
- American Chestnut Cooperator’s Foundation
- Grafting Resources
- History of Chestnuts at Sugarloaf Mountain
Tree Identification
Is this an American chestnut tree?
TACF chestnut identification resources
Appalachian Trail MEGA-Transect American Chestnut Project Resources:
- American Chestnut Tree I.D. Resources for Onscreen Viewing
- Booklet Version for printing 20 pp on 5 sheets (both sides)
- Pack Along Version – for printing 8 double sided cards on 2 sheets of cardstock
The above pdf files are based on materials from TACF Southern Appalachian Regional Science Coordinator Paul Sisco’s web site and the TACF Field Guide.
Hypovirulence
Hypovirulence Treatment of Blight Cankers
Hypovirulence treatment outline prepared by Dr. Donald L. Nuss. (C. parasitica strains for tailored biocontrol of chestnut blight on individual trees)
Protocol for treatment of Sugarloaf East Field Trees August 4, 2007
Map of Sugarloaf East Field Trees treated August 4, 2007
TACF Biocontrol information
Grafting
Grafting Resources
Nut-grafting!
January and February are the best times to cut scions from American chestnut trees and graft them onto American chestnut nuts. If they grow, you will have a clone of your scion wood tree that can be planted in a new location. Carl Mayfield, shown above, is an expert on this method of propagation. He graciously allowed us to take video at his nut-grafting clinic last winter, and he wrote out detailed instructions for every step of preparation and nurture, which can be found here:
Student Program
American Chestnut Learning Materials
Links to materials available for download at no charge.
American Chestnut Educational Resources
A list of information provided by The American Chestnut Foundation.
The Legend of the American Chestnut Tree
A book written by students of the Poolesville High School, Kirby Carmack & Nicole Rodriguez, with Illustrations by Michael Torres.
The American Chestnut video by Thomas Nassif
An 18 minute video that tell the story of the chestnut and TACF, documents controlled pollination and shows the basics of hypo virulence.
American Chestnut Loaner Lab (University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute and Towson University)
Download the teacher’s manual for the Chestnut Tree Lab. Loaner Lab kits made available to MD schools at no cost. A model for a national package to meet technology SOLs along with teaching chestnut science
Penn State Chestnut Growers Website
Everything a chestnut grower needs to know and much more, including back issues of the TACF Journal and other publications in pdf format.
Hypovirulence information (MDTACF)
This information covers the procedures volunteers can use to treat blight on surviving American chestnut trees.
Maryland Chapter Menu
National Facebook
Join us on Friday, May 16, 2025, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat.
Special guests Duane McKenna and Michael Charles will discuss beetle evolution and the rediscovery of a lost species, the greater chestnut weevil.
Visit tacf.org/event/chestnut-chat-beetle-evolution-greater-chestnut-weevil/ to learn more and register.
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Why don't they make a weevil that can't have babies? And put them in the wild? So it'll past it to overs so they'll die out!!!
Planting season is here! This week we planted around 140 genomically selected chestnut seedlings at Meadowview's Duncan Farm for seed orchard production. In 5–7 years, this new seed orchard will be used for breeding and collecting open-pollinated seeds to continually improve disease resistance among our trees. Exciting roots for the future!
#americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #meadowviewresearchfarms
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out of five trees, I have only one that has survived. Two due to cold killing the tops (16-21 degrees) and two I think killed by squirrels or gophers.
I wrote to you recently and we have one out here in Oregon City OR. In the middle of our woods we just logged. It was planted about 1890. We are mailing out a sample today for you.
Awesome!! 🥰
We're hiring and the deadline is this weekend! Head to jobs.talenthr.io/tacf/nursery-manager/4 to learn more.
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Carolina friends, please join us on May 3rd!
Where: Pryor Orchard in Edneyville, NC - Address and additional details will be provided after you sign up and fill out a waiver.
When: Saturday, May 3rd 2025 at 10:00AM.
Bring: Closed toe shoes (no crocs, sorry!), gloves, hat, sunscreen, bug spray, water and a snack or lunch.
Spots are limited, visit theamericanchestnutfoundation.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=90477 to sign up.
For more information, please contact:
Regional Science Coordinator Jamie Van Clief: gro.fcat@feilcnav.eimaj
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Two American chestnut hybrids showing off their early spring leaves. These trees were planted about 10 years ago behind Lucy Herring Elementary in West Asheville.
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Approximately how tall are the trees?
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