Tree Information
Common Name: American chestnut
Scientific Name: Castanea dentata
Native/Naturalized: Native to Virginia
Database ID: 59
Status: alive
National Champion: no
Virginia Champion: yes
Circumference: 142 in.
Height: 55 ft.
Crown: 42 ft.
Points: 208
Date Last Measured: 2015
Last Measured by: Eric Wiseman, Carl Absher, BJ Absher
Date First Measured: 1972
Comments: Was visited by Certified Arborist Carl Absher in 2013: "I had the opportunity to visit it with Dr. Hebard last year and get a description of it. He has isolated blight from the trunk and major limbs but it still lives. None of its progeny have ever shown any resistance. Its just one of those anomalies that Mother Nature throws out sometimes so we know who is really running things." Was visited and remeasured by Carl Absher, BJ Absher, and Eric Wiseman in March 2015. East side leader is about 90% dead, but has two live sprouts on it. About 40% dieback on west side leader. Height was measured with tape drop by BJ Absher. Trunk circumference measured at 40" above ground line. All measurements were of live branches. Largest specimen ever documented by VA Big Trees as of 2020.
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Location of Tree
Tree is located in: Amherst
Land Owner: Paul Grindstaff
GPS Coordinates: 37.629463, -78.982260
Owner Email: chestnutridge66@yahoo.com
Directions: Route 29 to route 610 to route 729 (Chestnut Lane); tree is located in pasture adjacent to the farmhouse (built in 1845).
Owner Address: 202 Chestnut Lane
Amherst, Virginia 24251
Owner Phone: 434.946.9839
Contact Information
Contact Name: Eric Wiseman
Contact Email: pwiseman@vt.edu
Contact Phone: 540-231-5148
Nominators
Original Nominator(s): John G. Swift