Grid reference | ST 17641 76526 |
Common name | Sweet chestnut |
Origin | South Europe & north Africa |
Deciduous | Yes |
Height | 13M September 2015 |
Girth | 150cm September 2015 |
Reference | 309 |
This tree is at the south west corner of Sophia Gardens, east of the lodge.
General tree description
Castanea sativa is a fast growing, large tree growing up to 36 metres tall. It has vertically-ridged, rough, grey-brown bark and dense glossy foliage. The leaves are 20cm long and elliptic with 20 pairs of straight parallel veins each ending in a 'saw' tooth. The flowers are bisexual catkins, female at the base and male at the tip. The conspicuous male sections are 15 to 20cm long and yellow or creamy white with an unpleasant odour. They mature in mid summer, then fall away leaving the female catkins to develop into spiny fruits (chestnuts) in autumn. A good crop of chestnuts is only produced in a warmer than average summer.