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Chestnut – Potted

Chestnut – Potted

Regular price $18.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $18.00 USD
Sale Sold out

36 in stock

We source our seed nuts each fall from the top-performing trees at the best chestnut orchards in the Midwest. This ensures that the trees you buy from us have the highest chance of producing high yields of top-quality nuts.

WE DO NOT SHIP POTTED PLANTS.

Potted plants are available for **PICKUP ONLY** in May-June in Champaign, IL, Prairie du Chien, WI, or Columbus Junction, IA (select location at check out). We will contact you once your trees are ready to schedule a pickup time.

Suited for USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: See tab “Chestnut Family Descriptions” above for family-specific data

Prices vary by seed source.

Will it thrive?

Stop! Before you buy these trees....are you sure they will thrive in your soil and climate? To be sure, you should prepare a Compass Report for your farm at CanopyCompass.com. The chestnut suitability maps at Canopy Compass are generic to all chestnuts. To learn more about the hardiness traits of specific chestnut genetics, please refer to the "Chestnut Family Descriptions" tab above.


Chestnut Family Descriptions

Farm Family Mixes

Farm Family Mixes are collections of seedlings from multiple top-performing mother trees from specific farms.

Badgersett Boundless

Origin: Seedlings from top-performing trees at Badgersett Research Farm in Canton, MN.
Nut Qualities: These trees are selected for high nut production and resilience in colder climates.
Tree Characteristics: Cold hardy to at least Zone 4b, these seedlings offer strong growth and consistent yields. Ideal for colder regions where cold hardiness is vital.
Special Notes: The Badgersett name is well-known for its research and commitment to producing cold-hardy chestnut varieties.

Empire Elite

Origin: Seedlings from top-performing trees at Empire Chestnut Company (Route 9) in Carrollton, OH.
Nut Qualities: Known for producing both flavorful and high-quality nuts, suitable for various uses.
Tree Characteristics: Cold hardy to at least Zone 5b, these seedlings are selected for reliable nut production and adaptability in cooler climates.
Special Notes: Empire Elite seedlings come from a well-respected source known for their superior chestnut genetics.

Iowa Invincible

Origin: Seedlings from top-performing trees at Red Fern Farm in Wapello, IA.
Nut Qualities: High-quality nuts that will have some variability in size and flavor characteristics because of their genetic diversity.
Tree Characteristics: Cold hardy to at least Zone 5b, these seedlings are selected for reliable nut production and genetic diversity
Special Notes: These trees are suitable pollenizers for most hybrids.

Ohio Outstanding

Origin: Seedlings from top-performing trees from the Wintergreen Chestnut Company in Mantua, OH.
Nut Qualities: Optimized through selective breeding to produce culinary nuts with the highest possible flavor and nutrition.
Tree Characteristics: Highly blight resistant. Cold hardy to at least Zone 5b.
Special Notes: Wintergreen’s genetic diversity includes genes from American, Chinese, European, and Japanese chestnuts.

PQ F1 Mix

Origin: A block of seedlings from full-sibling crosses between ‘Peach’ and ‘Qing.’
Nut Qualities: Produces large, high-quality nuts, with some seedlings outperforming their parents.
Tree Characteristics: Cold hardy to at least Zone 5b, with less genetic diversity than other mixes.
Special Notes: PQ F1 mix offers seedlings with complementary characteristics from two top-performing parent trees, ideal for those seeking consistent nut production.

Stehli Elite Mix

Origin: Seedlings from Bob Stehli’s orchard in Ohio, selected from highly productive mother trees.
Nut Qualities: High-quality Chinese or Chinese hybrid nuts.
Tree Characteristics: Cold hardy to at least Zone 5b, with a broad range of material selected over 30 years.
Special Notes: Stehli Elite Mix offers excellent genetic diversity and reliable nut production, with some genetic overlap with the Empire Elite Mix.


Chinese Chestnut Half-sibs

Half-sibs are trees grown from seed that all comes from a known mother tree that was pollenated by any number of and unknown pollen parents. The cultivar names listed below refer to the mother tree.

Allegheny Chinkapin

Origin: Grown from selected populations of Allegheny chinkapins (Castanea pumila), native to the southeastern USA.
Nut Qualities: Tiny nuts (400-500 per lb.), ideal for wildlife or landscape use.
Tree Characteristics: A shrub or small tree, reaching a mature height of about 25 feet. Cold hardy to at least Zone 5b.
Special Notes: Some newer chinkapins are hybrids with Ozark chinkapins, and they are well-suited for wildlife plantings or ornamental use.

Amy

Origin: Seedlings from the Amy tree, selected by Greg Miller from C. mollissima seedlings in Ohio.
Nut Qualities: Produces high-quality, large to extra-large nuts that are easy to peel and have great flavor.
Tree Characteristics: Cold hardy to at least Zone 5b and a reliable, heavy producer.
Special Notes: Amy seedlings are fast-growing, productive trees that perform well as a companion to other chestnut varieties like Qing.

Auburn Super (AU-Super)

Origin: Seedlings from the Auburn Super tree, released by Auburn University.
Nut Qualities: Known for producing among the largest nuts among commercial Chinese chestnut cultivars. Nut quality is good, although trees may occasionally overbear, leading to smaller nuts.
Tree Characteristics: Cold hardy to at least Zone 5a, these trees are strong and vigorous growers, producing extra-large nuts.
Special Notes: Auburn Super is an excellent choice for growers seeking maximum nut size and commercial viability.

Auburn Homestead (AU-Homestead)

Origin: Seedlings from the AU Homestead tree, released by Auburn University.
Nut Qualities: Exceptionally fine-flavored nuts, with a unique texture preferred in China.
Tree Characteristics: Cold hardy to at least Zone 5b, with a long ripening period suitable for home use.
Special Notes: AU Homestead is noted for its glutinous quality and, due to its late ripening, is better suited for longer growing seasons.

Gideon

Origin: Seedlings from the Gideon tree, selected by Greg Miller from C. mollissima seedlings in Ohio.
Nut Qualities: Produces large to extra-large, easy-to-peel nuts that are high in quality and flavor.
Tree Characteristics: Fast-growing and cold hardy to at least Zone 5b. Known for being a regular, heavy bearer of chestnuts.
Special Notes: Gideon is an excellent parent tree and pairs well with Qing for pollination. It is particularly fast-growing in Iowa.

Hong Kong

Origin: A top performer selected by Mike Nave from cultivar trials at the University of Missouri.
Nut Qualities: High-quality nuts with excellent flavor.
Tree Characteristics: Cold hardy to at least Zone 5b, with strong growth and resilience.
Special Notes: Hong Kong is one of the best-performing cultivars in trial settings and is highly recommended for commercial planting.

Jenny

Origin: Seedlings from the Jenny tree, an open-pollinated seedling of the Ohio cultivar Kintzel.
Nut Qualities: Produces large, flavorful nuts that drop early in the season.
Tree Characteristics: Jenny is a tall, vigorous tree with an erect growth pattern and large leaves. Cold hardy to Zone 5b and likely blight resistant.
Special Notes: Jenny seedlings are expected to share Kintzel’s cold hardiness and blight resistance, making them an excellent choice for colder climates.

Liu

Origin: Seedlings from the Liu tree, originally from the Nanjing Botanical Garden cultivar collection.
Nut Qualities: Reddish leaves and burs with low blossom end rot and nuts that store very well.
Tree Characteristics: Cold hardy to at least Zone 5b.
Special Notes: Liu is distinguished by its unique foliage and excellent storage qualities, making it an outstanding variety for growers seeking durable nut trees.

Mossbarger

Origin: Seedlings from the Mossbarger tree, a selection from Kentucky.
Nut Qualities: Produces 30-34 nuts per pound, known for very good flavor when eaten raw or cooked. Some nuts may develop splits, a trait seen more often in hybrids.
Tree Characteristics: The tree is reputed to be pure Castanea mollissima but shows hybrid traits, with unusually thick stems, branches, and trunk. Cold hardy to at least Zone 5b.
Special Notes: Mossbarger seedlings are an excellent choice for growers seeking trees with a robust growth pattern and flavorful nuts.

Nanking

Origin: An older USDA selection favored in the 1950s for its productivity.
Nut Qualities: Adequate nut quality, though somewhat late season. Highly productive.
Tree Characteristics: Cold hardy to at least Zone 5b, with reliable yields.
Special Notes: Nanking is a great option for growers seeking a tried-and-true cultivar with consistent production.

Peach

Origin: Seedlings from the Peach tree, selected by Greg Miller from C. mollissima seedlings in Ohio.
Nut Qualities: Produces extra-large, easy-to-peel nuts that are slightly fuzzy, like a peach. The tree is known for consistent, reliable nut production without overbearing.
Tree Characteristics: Peach trees are resilient and consistent producers, with cold hardiness to at least Zone 5b.
Special Notes: Peach is a highly regarded variety for its consistently large nuts and reliable yield.

Qing

Origin: Seedlings from the renowned Qing tree, named by Mike Nave. The original tree is of unknown origin and is growing in Hickory, Kentucky.
Nut Qualities: Extra-large nuts (~20-25g/nut) with an exceptionally sweet flavor. Shiny, dark brown, and stored well even among Chinese varieties.
Tree Characteristics: A heavy producer, this tree focuses more on nut production than vegetative growth, contributing to its smaller size. Cold hardy to at least Zone 5a.
Special Notes: Qing nuts are sweeter than many small Chinese chestnuts and fall in early to mid-season. The tree was planted in the late 1950s or early 1960s.

Resilient

Origin: Seedlings from a top-performing tree at Red Fern Farm, Iowa.
Nut Qualities: Produces medium to extra-large nuts that are reliable in both size and quality.
Tree Characteristics: Cold hardy to at least Zone 5b, and known for withstanding difficult growing conditions. Exceptionally resilient after harsh winters.
Special Notes: Resilient is one of the few trees at Red Fern Farm to bear a normal crop in 2019 after an exceptionally cold and wet winter and spring.

Royalmark

Origin: Selected by Richard Winkel from a bulk seed purchase in Michigan around 1990.
Nut Qualities: Easy-to-peel nuts with very good flavor that store well.
Tree Characteristics: Cold hardy to at least Zone 5b, with an orchard-type growth habit.
Special Notes: Royalmark is an excellent orchard tree that consistently produces tasty, well-storing nuts.

Shotgun

Origin: A selection by Tom and Kathy Wahl at Red Fern Farm in Iowa.
Nut Qualities: Large nuts, but is prone to occasional overbearing.
Tree Characteristics: Cold hardy to at least Zone 5b.
Special Notes: Shotgun seedlings are reliable producers with strong performance in colder climates.


Hybrid Chestnut Half-Sibs

Half-sibs are trees grown from seed that all comes from a known mother tree that was pollenated by any number of and unknown pollen parents. The cultivar names listed below refer to the mother tree or, sometimes, a small group of related mother trees.

ACE

Origin: A male-sterile complex hybrid derived from American, Chinese, and European genetics.
Nut Qualities: High-quality, easy-peeling nuts with good flavor.
Tree Characteristics: Cold hardy, blight-resistant, and marroni-type growth with heavy crop loads. Cold hardy to at least Zone 5b.
Special Notes: ACE combines the best characteristics of European and Chinese chestnuts, making it an excellent option for growers looking for a resilient, high-quality chestnut tree.

BadgerQing

Origin: Seedlings from a cross of Badgersett Research Farm trees pollinated by Qing.
Nut Qualities: Sweet, easy peeling nut averaging 20-30 nuts per pound.
Tree Characteristics: Cold hardy to at least Zone 5b. These seedlings are known for strong growth and reliable nut production.
Special Notes: BadgerQing trees are pollen sterile, requiring compatible pollenizers nearby for nut production.

Giant Badger

Origin: American x Chinese hybrid from Badgersett Research Farm grown by Red Fern Farm
Nut Qualities: Produces extra-large nuts up to .85oz each.
Tree Characteristics: Extra cold tolerance, hardy up to Zone 4b. 
Special Notes: Giant Badger is generally pollen sterile, so a suitable pollenizer is required.

Hansen

Origin: A hybrid seedling from Norm Hansen in Iowa, likely including Japanese, Chinese, and American genetics.
Nut Qualities: Medium-sized nuts with predominantly Chinese characteristics, though flavor can be bland.
Tree Characteristics: Timber-type tree with an open, tiered branching structure. Consistently productive and resistant to gall wasps and blight.
Special Notes: Hansen is a resilient tree that performs well in various conditions and maintains healthy foliage despite insect pressure.

Japanese (Castanea crenata)

Origin: Seedlings from the cultivar collection at the Korean Institute of Forest Genetics.
Nut Qualities: High-quality Japanese-type chestnuts, though the kernel quality is often lower than Chinese chestnuts.
Tree Characteristics: Vigorous and productive, cold hardy to at least Zone 5b.
Special Notes: Japanese chestnuts are a reliable choice for growers seeking vigorous and blight-resistant trees.

Large Badger

Origin: Seedlings from top-performing trees at Red Fern Farm pollinated by seedlings from Badgersett Research Farm in Canton, MN
Nut Qualities: Sweet, medium to large nuts.
Tree Characteristics: Cold hardy to at least Zone 4b.
Special Notes: These trees carry American (dentata) and Chinese (mollissima) genetics. Large Badger is pollen fertile.

Luvall's Monster

Origin: Seedlings from a complex male-sterile hybrid tree from Illinois with American, Chinese, and Japanese genetics.
Nut Qualities: Produces large nuts with good flavor, though they may have poor keeping quality and many doubles.
Tree Characteristics: Cold hardy to at least Zone 4b. Male-sterile hybrid, requiring nearby pollenizers.
Special Notes: Luvall’s Monster is highly productive, though its offspring often exhibit improved nut quality and resemble Chinese-type nuts.

NH 4 Pair

Origin: Two sibling seedlings, grandchildren of Meader’s New Hampshire #4, a Japanese hybrid with American and Chinese genetics.
Nut Qualities: Smallish nuts with good Chinese-type quality, better than NH #4.
Tree Characteristics: Timber-type trees, cold hardy to Zone 5a, reliable producers even after spring freezes.
Special Notes: NH Pair seedlings are highly recommended for northern growers, offering excellent adaptation to short growing seasons.

QingSu

Origin: Seedlings from a cross between the Qing and Auburn Super trees.
Nut Qualities: Produces large to extra-large nuts, with a reputation for heavy production.
Tree Characteristics: Cold hardy to at least Zone 5b. These trees are strong producers with consistent yields.
Special Notes: QingSu is known for its exceptional nut production and is highly recommended for growers seeking heavy yields.

Sleeping Giant

Origin: Seedlings from Sleeping Giant, a mollissima x (crenata x dentata) hybrid.
Nut Qualities: Consistently produces medium-large, handsome nuts, about 40 per pound.
Tree Characteristics: Upright timber form, cold hardy to at least Zone 4.
Special Notes: Sleeping Giant is a Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station selection known for its impressive nut production and resistance to blight.

Szego

Origin: Seedlings from Sleeping Giant, a mollissima x (crenata x dentata) hybrid.
Nut Qualities: Nuts are uniformly extra-large but easy to peel and relatively dense, much like Chinese nuts. They are sweet and flavorful, generally with more flavor than pure Chinese nuts.
Tree Characteristics: Szego is a very vigorous and erect tree. It grafts well on Chinese, Japanese, and European hybrids. Hardy to Zone 5b.
Special Notes: The tree is resistant to phytophthora root rot. It does have some resistance to blight, but the extent of it is not yet known. Szego is a heavy pollen producer.

Timber Hybrids

Origin: Seedlings from a block of trees selected for timber-type growth and blight resistance, containing American chestnut hybrids and others.
Nut Qualities: Seeds are produced for wildlife, though nut size and quality vary.
Tree Characteristics: Cold hardy to at least Zone 5b. Tall, straight-growing trees were selected for timber potential and blight resistance.
Special Notes: Timber hybrids are best suited for experimental and genetic development purposes to produce blight-resistant, forest-competitive trees.

Very American

Origin: Seedlings from a vigorous, upright mother tree from Badgersett Research Farm, Canton, MN.
Nut Qualities: Produces very small nuts, nearly indistinguishable from pure American chestnuts.
Tree Characteristics: Cold hardy and highly vigorous, with an upright growth form. Suitable for those looking for trees with American chestnut characteristics.
Special Notes: Very American seedlings are ideal for those seeking trees with growth habits similar to pure American chestnuts.

Growing Information

A basic guide to planting potted trees:

  • Potted trees can be planted anytime the ground is thawed. Potted trees must be planted early enough so roots can grow into the surrounding, undisturbed soil and become anchored before the ground freezes. If planted too late, frost action may heave the tree from the ground.

  • To avoid this, plant by early October. 

Site Selection

  • Most fruit and nut trees require moist, well-drained soil. 

  • Chestnuts require slightly acidic soil but will tolerate dryer, sandier soil than many other trees.

  • Persimmons, pawpaws, and pecans will tolerate much wider soil conditions (including periodic flooding) than most trees.

Spacing 

  • Most of these trees will do well with a 20 x 20-foot spacing initially but may need to be thinned to 20 x 40 feet or 40 x 40 feet after 20 years. 

  • Papaws are small trees, and a 10 x 10 foot or even 10x 20 foot spacing may be better for them. 

To Plant 

  • Water the tree pots thoroughly. If the soil in the pot is very dry (the tree and pot feel light), soak them in 2 - 6 inches of water until the soil at the top of the pot is moist. Remove them from the water and allow them to drain one hour before planting. 

  • Dig a hole the same depth as the depth of the soil in the pot, no deeper.

  • Turn the pot upside down and shake the pot (don’t squeeze). The goal is for the tree, roots, and dirt to slide out of the pot as one mass. Catch it in your hand as it comes out. Be careful not to let the soil fall away from the roots (pre-watering will help).

  • Place the root mass in the hole and hold it upright with one hand while you backfill around it with the other. Use only the native soil at the planting site. Avoid mixing in fertilizer, compost, or other additives.

  • Firm the soil around the tree roots to exclude air pockets. 


WATER! 

Water right after planting and when the soil feels dry 3 - 4 inches below the surface. 

Maintenance

  • Improper or inadequate maintenance is the #1 reason for tree planting failure. Trees must be protected from clumsy feet, mowers, deer, rabbits, and weed competition, especially grasses. 

  • The best combination is a tree shelter with a weed mat, such as landscape cloth around the tree.

    • A  layer of wood chips or mulch over the weed mat may also be beneficial.

  • Competent pesticide applications can substitute herbicides for mulch. If using herbicide, consulting a licensed professional is recommended.

  • Mowing by itself is not enough for weed control. 

  • Do not use solid/unvented tree shelters. Appropriate tree shelters can be purchased from Canopy Nursery

Warning! Sun Scald 

  • Our potted trees are grown under shade cloth. 

  • As a result, they can get sun scald (sunburn) very quickly. 

  • Tree shelters/ tubes/protectors provide the perfect amount of filtered light. 

  • During bright summer days, do not leave your tree in direct sun for more than 30 minutes between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. 

  • They can be acclimated to direct sun by morning and afternoon sunlight exposure.

We recognize these factors may be overwhelming, but we are here to offer support and assistance on your tree-planting journey! Please schedule a call if any of these instructions need clarification or if you have any questions or concerns.

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