Blooming American Chestnut Trees

The American chestnut tree tends to bloom later than many other nut producing hardwood trees, such as oaks.  This is why historically, the chestnut produced a nut crop every year consistently.  Oak trees may only produce acorns once every couple of years, so wildlife (deer, turkey, etc) can only feed on this mast during times of production.  Since the chestnut blooms late, there is little chance for the flowers to get nipped by a late frost, so they tend to produce nuts annually.  This is why American chestnut trees were so beneficial for wildlife species in the forests of the Eastern United States.

When the blight basically wiped out chestnut trees from Maine down to Mississippi, it must have been a terrible impact on many wildlife species.  Eventually, this tree will be surviving back out in the forests where it once reined as "king!"

Flowers are forming on chestnut trees right now and should begin blooming in a few weeks!  It is said that chestnut trees were so prevalent in many eastern woods that during the blooming period of June, the mountains appeared to have snow on them!  This was just the many showy flowers of the American chestnut tree!

Male flowers forming - late May, 2014.

 

 

Typically, a chestnut tree will begin flowering at about 5 to 8 years old.  Sometimes, flowering will occur earlier, depending on the amount of light and growing conditions.  The trees pictured here are currently in their third growing season.  Although many male flowers are apparent, I could not yet find any female flowers - which is what will become a bur.  I'll keep an eye on them, though, in case there is an opportunity to do some manual pollination.

 

The first male catkins (flowers) this 3 year old tree has formed!

 

 

A good example for seeing flowers forming on chestnut trees up close is at the Louisville Nature Center located at 3745 Illinois Avenue in Louisville, KY.  While there, be sure to not only look at the trees, but read the 3-panel sign which tells all about the American chestnut tree, chestnut blight and efforts to breed a blight resistant tree.

 

If you arrive during the Center's open hours, stop in the building to see their displays and get information on the hiking trails.  This facility and preserve are wonderful assets for our community!

 

In a few weeks, the whitish flowers will be very obvious on the blooming chestnut trees.

 

 

Come and look at later posts.   I will attempt to take some photos and post them on this blog when the trees are in full bloom!