






LARGE LEGACY MEMORIAL TREES
FEATURES:
May Benefit & Attract: Finches, chickadees & titmice, mockingbirds & thrashers, wood warblers, sparrows, nuthatches, wrens, thrushes, crows & jays, cardinals & grosbeaks, waxwings, orioles, woodpeckers, vireos
- Stands straight with elegance
- Lives a long time as majestic shade legacy tree
- Leaves are glossy and have ripped edges
- In the fall, foliage is bright red with brown acorns decorating the canopy
- This bird-friendly native plant provides food and shelter for local and migrating birds and other wildlife
- All Audubon® branded trees and plants are grown 100% Neonic-free by Bower & Branch, making these trees safer for the birds and safer for the environment
- The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow
- Hand Selected, Fresh from the Grower
- Ships in a plant-safe designed box
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 5-8
- Mature Height: 50-75' tall
- Mature Width: 50-75' wide
- Exposure: Full Sun
- Spacing: 50-75' apart
Why plant Audubon® Native American Chestnut Treeling?
The majestic American Chestnut was once the dominant tree of our eastern forests. It provided food to wildlife in the form of chestnut crops so abundant, they could cover the forest floor a foot deep. In addition, the foliage hosts over 130 species of moth and butterfly caterpillars, providing essential protein to songbirds. In 1904, an imported blight fungus began destroying the vast majority of Chestnut Trees in this country. But not all! Survivors remain. You can grow a seedling from one of these survivors, and be a part of the effort to bring this noble native back to its former glory!
In the early days of the United States, millions of American Chestnut Trees grew across the land, from Michigan to Maine and south to Mississippi and northwestern Florida. The largest specimens were over 100 feet tall and had trunks 12 feet thick. The durable wood supplied people with the material to make furniture, railway ties, and utility poles. Then, in 1904, a deadly Chestnut blight from China appeared at the Bronx Zoo. By the time Nat King Cole was singing about roasting chestnuts in 1946, most of the country’s Chestnut Trees had fallen victim. We offer seedlings from mature, surviving Chestnut Trees in northwestern Illinois in an effort to help get this glorious species reestablished!
How to use Audubon® Native American Chestnut Treeling in the landscape?
As spring slips into summer, American Chestnut opens its showy blooms, which look like fuzzy, creamy-white ropes. They give off a musky-sweet fragrance that some people like and others don’t. If another seedling is nearby to cross pollinate the flowers, prickly fruits will form, with sweet-tasting chestnuts inside.
Audubon® Native Plants & Trees
Audubon is devoted to protecting birds and the places they need, while Bower & Branch is devoted to the growth of true native trees and plants–no cultivars or hybrids. Together, we strive to unite communities in conservation and inspire individuals to cultivate a better world for birds starting in their own backyards, balconies, or patios. By guiding and recommending trees and plants truly native and beneficial to your region, we can really start to make a difference.
What is the definition of Native?
“In the United States, a native plant is defined as one that was naturally found in a particular area before European colonization. Native plants are the foundation of a region’s biodiversity, providing essential food sources and shelter for birds, especially those threatened by the changing climate. Since native plants are adapted to local precipitation and soil conditions, they generally require less upkeep, therefore helping the environment and saving you time, water, and money.” – The National Audubon Society
Learn how you can help birds in your home and community through Audubon’s Plants for Birds program.
Audubon® is a licensed and registered trademark of the National Audubon Society. All rights reserved.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 5-8
How To Plant Audubon® Native American Chestnut Treeling
American Chestnut appreciates good, rich, moist, well-drained soil and plenty of sunshine. Chestnuts are encased in prickly, sea urchin–like pods, so you’ll want to keep this tree away from patios, pools, sidewalks, and other places where bare feet may wander. In rural areas, semi-wild spaces are ideal, as local wildlife like turkeys, jays, and grouse will love to share in the bounty. Before planting, check with your local extension office about the presence of Chestnut blight in your area and the feasibility of planting Chestnuts on your property.
How To Water
Water twice weekly for the first 3-5 weeks; then water weekly for the remainder of the year until winter. When you water, water very slowly and very thoroughly. The water needs to reach to the bottom of the root ball and that takes time. Watering needs may be altered due to extreme weather conditions.
How To Fertilize
Incorporate Elements Starter Plant Food granular form into the soil when planting. If planting in spring or summer, start fertilizing late fall using Elements Starter Plant Food granular form on an annual basis each fall. Continue this for the first three years to get your plant well established.
How To Prune
If needed, pruning on the American Chestnut should be completed in late winter.
Videos
How Does Shipping Work?
Size Small (AAA), Medium (A2A), and Large (AA) plants (our Treelings, Shrubs, Bushes, and Perennials) will be shipped directly to your home by a common carrier. Ships in a plant-safe designed box within 5-7 business days.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health.. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.






Our Guarantees
90 DAY SATISFACTION GUARANTEE:
Bower & Branch guarantees customer satisfaction within all product groups and sizes. If for any reason you are not satisfied with the product or experience, you have 90 days from the original date of purchase to request a replacement of the purchased product(s).
How?
Reach out to a Plant Whisperer:
- Email: plantwhisperers@bowerandbranch.com - Phone: 866-873-3888 - Or via Online Chat