Sweet Chestnut tree

BrianD3

Does the Spanish (aka Sweet) Chestnut grow well or at all in Ireland? I don't think I have ever seen one here. Have seen them on the continent, big impressive tress and the chestnuts themselves are delicious.

Not to be confused with Horse Chestnut "conker" trees of course.

Irish Gardener

Yes BrianD3, the sweet chestnut or Castanea sativa will grow quite well in this country.
Here are some links to examples of them growing in Limerick and Dublin.....

http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:cGh7C-4Wy2EJ:www.treecouncil.ie/countypdfs/LIMERICK.PDF+Castanea+sativa+ireland&hl=en&gl=ie&ct=clnk&cd=4&client=firefox-a

http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:pr-S_l1rauEJ:www.treecouncil.ie/countypdfs/DUBLIN.PDF+Castanea+sativa+dublin+ireland&hl=en&gl=ie&ct=clnk&cd=2&client=firefox-a

The tree requires a free-draining soil in full sun. It does best in a lime free soil preferring it acid or neutral.
Expect it to grow to 15 metres in height, with a spread of 12 metres within 20 years under good growing conditions

BrianD3

Thanks for that Gardener. The treecouncil site is a good one, wasn't aware of that before. I was thinking of growing a sweet chestnut from seed as I have done with other trees.