This page is designed to help you distinguish among several species in the chestnut family (Castanea) commonly seen in North America. Also included are three non-chestnut species that are often confused with chestnut. Click on the names below to see examples and characteristics of the common species of chestnut or chestnut look-alikes.

Leaf shape is a great starting point for identifying chestnut species. However, it is important to remember that leaf shape is highly variable and should not be used as the sole method of identification.

American chestnuts produce three nuts per burr, distinguishing them from the one nut per bur chinquapins. In addition, many exotic and hybrid chestnuts may be found in the US, including Chinese, Japanese, and European chestnuts, as well as many named cultivars and hybrid varieties. American chestnut can be identified using a range of traits.

American Chestnut Tree Identification Resources For the Appalachian Trail Mega-Transect Chestnut Project May 2008 How to identify American chestnut trees Excerpt from: Field Guide for locating, pollinating, and harvesting nuts from flowering American Chestnut Trees (Castanea dentata) The American Chestnut Foundation Revised First Edition, May 2000

How to identify American chestnut trees Excerpt from: Field Guide for locating, pollinating, and harvesting nuts from flowering American Chestnut Trees (Castanea dentata) The American Chestnut Foundation Revised First Edition, May 2000 Chestnut trees are most easily located while they are in full bloom,

Chinese Chestnut Burs (right): A sparse mass of short, thick spines; Spines are 1 to 2 cm long, 1 mm thick; Up to 3 nuts per bur

Chestnut Identification. American Chestnut Tree Identification and Use. Chestnut Species Comparison. American Chestnut Vs Horse Chestnut. Growing and Caring for American Chestnut Trees. How to Grow Chestnuts. Planting American Chestnuts in Pots. Identifying Blight Cankers on American Chestnuts. Phytophthora Root Rot.

Japanese Chestnut Leaf. Very small teeth on leaf edges Leaf elongate, with almost parallel sides

Allegheny chinquapin (1 nut/bur) Imported (with recorded dates): European chestnut (1773) Japanese chestnut (1876) Chinese chestnut (1912) HYBRID CHESTNUTS Hybridizing efforts have been recorded in the US beginning in 1895 The Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station has been breeding chestnuts since the 1920’s. Chestnut Species You Might Find:

Nuts are relatively large, 1 to 2 inches in diameter; Tips of European chestnuts are pointed; Surface hair only at tip; Vascular bundles in a large star pattern on hilum end; 2 to 3 nuts in each bur