This Web Site is designed to help you distinguish among several species of the chestnut family (Castanea ) commonly seen in North America. We've also included three non-chestnut species that are often confused with chestnut.
Click on the names at the left to see examples and characteristics of the common species of chestnut or chestnut look-alikes.
A good place to start is to compare American and Chinese chestnuts. Over 80% of the leaves that are sent to us each year for identification are either from Chinese chestnuts or Chinese/American hybrids, because these trees are resistant to the chesnut blight. Also compare true American chestnut with three trees often confused with chestnut: chestnut oak, beech, and horsechestnut.
The goal of The American Chestnut Foundation is to breed blight-resistant American chestnuts to return this great tree to the American forests. Go to the TACF Home Page to read about our goals. If you like them, why not join us?
We welcome comments and suggestions about this site. Please email them to Paul Sisco, TACF Regional Science Coordinator, <paul@acf.org>