Tennessee

Our Mission

The Tennessee Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation works to find and record information pertaining to surviving American Chestnut Trees in Tennessee, particularly those that may be bearing nuts, and assist participating volunteer growers in the backcross breeding program with technical and financial assistance.

What We Do

A priority of the TN Chapter will be to find and record information pertaining to surviving American Chestnut Trees in Tennessee, particularly those that may be bearing nuts. Locating these mother trees will be critical to ensuring that genes of TN American Chestnut trees are included in the national breeding program for reintroduction in TN.

Get Involved

Plant a Tree
If you have a farm with well-drained silt loam or sandy loam soil, and you are willing to take care of and protect young trees, you could participate by planting an orchard for use in the breeding program. Growers will need to sign The American Chestnut Foundation’s Germplasm Agreement. Contact Dr. Hill Craddock if you are interested in being a grower.

Report a Tree
Do you know of the location of an American chestnut tree that may bloom and that we could use to pollinate? If so, please click here for more information or send a leaf and twig sample to Jamie Van Clief, TACF Southern Regional Science Coordinator, to confirm that it is an American chestnut tree. Her address and information on sending the leaf and twig specimens are provided on TACF’s Tree ID Guide.

Also, contact TN-TACF President Dr. Hill Craddock if you think you found a flowering/fruiting American chestnut. Your tree could be used in our breeding program.