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.

More Photos