American Chestnut Hybrid

Growth habit

Tree

Perennation

Short-lived perennial

Native distribution

Maine to Alabama

Location

Schnee Oak Collection

Source of plant

The American Chestnut Foundation

Description

This hybrid is 15/16th American chestnut that the American Chestnut Foundation refers to as BC3F3 , grown from their experimental farm in Meadowview, VA, and open-pollinated. This product is expected to show a high level of blight-resistance in initial forest test-plantings. The original cross is between Chinese and American and then each next stage is backcrossed to pure American. In each step, the backcross is selected for resistance through the process of inoculation and for American characteristics by visual observation. Final product is 15/16 American with expected 100% blight resistance.

USDA Hardiness Zone

4