Some progress has been made in developing blight resistant American chestnuts, and breeding between species is underway with the hope that this forest giant can be restored to its former range. All four of the chestnut species mentioned above are being grown in the Pacific Northwest. The best yields of sweet, well-filled nuts are obtained in areas where peaches do well. The trees will grow in cooler areas but are less productive. Breeding and selection are underway to produce satisfactory cultivars for a wider variety of climates.
Chestnuts grow best in full sun on deep, well-drained, loamy soil.
They begin bearing within several years of planting and rarely self-pollinate, so two or more trees should be planted close together. This small tree or shrub produces a sweet nut which was used by the Indians to produce a chocolate-like confection. It is adapted to a variety of habitats, including dry, rocky hillsides and streambanks. Of particular interest are hybrids between the American and Chinese chestnut. These trees are blight-resistant, have larger nuts than the American, stronger growth than the Chinese, and produce valuable straight trunks in addition to the nuts.