American Chestnut

Castanea dentata

Pollinator Value

🔑 Keystone: Castanea supports 102 lepidoptera species (NWF Eco Region 8 data), ranking it among the most ecologically significant genera in eastern deciduous forests. Before chestnut blight, C. dentata was a dominant canopy tree whose prolific mast crop sustained mammals, birds, and invertebrates across its range.
S13 102 species; S10 dominant canopy tree, faunal associations
🐛 Larval Host: Lochmaeus manteo, Synchlora aerata, Paonias excaecatus, Actias luna, Euclea delphinii, Lophocampa caryae, Schizura concinna, Antheraea polyphemus, Hyalophora cecropia, Orgyia leucostigma
S13+S15 10 verified Eastern NA
🐝 Specialist Bee Host: Andrena rehni
S17 Fowler specialist on Castanea; CT-DE-GA-MA-MD-NC-NJ-NY-PA-VA
❄️ Winter Food Source: Nuts persist into autumn and are consumed by Ruffed Grouse and Eastern Chipmunk; Hermit Thrush recorded feeding on Castanea in diet studies. Historically, the heavy mast crop was a critical winter food resource for wildlife throughout the Appalachians.
S57 Hermit Thrush; S10 Ruffed Grouse, Eastern Chipmunk

Proximity Score: 2
Native Status: ❌ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ❌ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: SE
CEC Eco-Regions: 8 – Eastern Temperate Forests, 8.1 – Mixed Wood Plains, 8.1.7 – Northeastern Coastal Zone
Rarity Notes: SARA-listed Endangered (Schedule 1, 2006). COSEWIC Endangered. NatureServe G3, IUCN Critically Endangered, N1 in Canada. Devastated by chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) introduced from Asia in 1904; surviving individuals are mostly stump sprouts that rarely reach reproductive maturity.
S26 SARA Endangered, Schedule 1; S22 G3, IUCN CR, N1; S10 blight history
Rarity Ranks: ON S1 – Critically Imperiled
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: Historically a dominant canopy tree of eastern deciduous forests, particularly in the Appalachian Mountains, growing in rich mesic to dry upland woodlands on acidic, well-drained soils alongside oaks, hickories, and tulip-poplar. Chestnut blight has reduced it to persistent stump sprouts in most of its range. In Ontario, it reaches its northern limit and is critically imperiled.
S10 rich mesic woodlands, rocky upland woodlands; S7 forests with oaks; S4 moist upland soils in mixed forests; S22 S1 in ON

Roles: Fortress/Barrier, Pollinator Attractor, Wildlife Habitat
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [MEDIUM]: S68 8 bee associations (threshold=3)] | Wildlife Habitat: S72 Hemenway (tables: 10-1, pp. 149)]
Notes: An excellent soil-enriching understorey tree in pine forests. As a canopy layer in food forest design, its deep taproot draws nutrients from lower soil horizons while the dense mast crop supports wildlife. Ectomycorrhizal associations (EM) further enhance soil nutrient cycling. Self-incompatible; requires two or more individuals for nut production.
S29 soil-enriching understorey in pine forests, self-sterile; S53 EM mycorrhizal; S10 self-incompatible

Category: Astringent, Expectorant, Dermatological Aid, Cough Medicine, Gastrointestinal Aid, Gynecological Aid
S28 Moerman categories; S29 Astringent, Expectorant
Notes: Cherokee used compound decoction of leaves as cough syrup and infusion for stomach complaints; leaves from young sprouts applied to sores. Cold bark infusion used to stop postpartum bleeding. Iroquois used compound decoction as wash for skin conditions and wood powder for chafed infants. Leaf infusion promoted expectoration and treated whooping cough; modern assessment considers leaves a mild astringent.
S28 Cherokee and Iroquois uses; S29 astringent, expectorant, whooping cough

✅ Edible ✅ Commonly Eaten

Foraging Notes: Nuts eaten raw or cooked by Cherokee and Iroquois peoples; ground into meal for bread, boiled for beverages, and oil extracted for cooking and seasoning. Roasted nuts were once a major commercial crop in eastern cities. The seed contains about 7% fat and 11% protein. Roasted nuts also used as coffee and chocolate substitutes.
S28 Cherokee and Iroquois food uses; S29 edible seed, oil, coffee substitute; S4 most important edible nut