Asiatic and Hybrid Chestnut Trees in the Eastern United States

After 10 to 25 years, 5 Chinese chestnut accessions (from northeastern China) and 10 Asiatic-American chestnut hybrids–in 4 of 8 plant growth regions in the eastern United States–produced trees of forest-tree form, grew rapidly, and had high resistance to the chestnut blight. Successful plots occurred on well-drained, moist sites in Van Dersal Regions 25 and 27. Less successful plots occurred in Regions 22 and 28. All plots are located between 32° and 41° latitude. Most of the chestnut accessions and hybrids failed, or grew unsatisfactorily in the 5 plots located in northern New York and southern New England–where once the American chestnut thrived. We recommend that forest timber-plots be established with clones of the outstanding Clapper chestnut hybrid, and with clones of the elite Chinese (PI-58602) chestnut, when the vegetative propagation of chestnuts becomes more efficient.