A deciduous tree, growing to 15 m (50 ft.) with dark grey, furrowed bark, and Narrow, glossy, serrated-edged leaves. The small white flowers, appearing in spring, are followed by clusters of prickly green spherical fruits, containing 1-3 edible brown nuts. Trees grown in cool, northerly regions do not produce the same quality of large, succulent fruits as those grown in warmer, Mediterranean climates.<\/p>\n
Sweet chestnut trees were grown in ancient Greece and Rome. The Greek physician, Theophrastus, wrote of their medicinal virtues and the Romans enjoyed eating them. They were probably introduced to Britain by the Romans and there are records of chestnuts grown in the Forest of Dean being paid as tithes, during the reign of Henry Il, 1154-1189. Writing in the mid-17th century Culpeper considered the \u201cinner skin\u201d of the chestnut would \u201cstop any flux whatsoever\u201d and that the ground, dried leaves made into an electuary with honey made \u201can admirable remedy for the cough and spitting of blood\u201d. Their culinary diversity was praised by the 17thcentury diarist and gourmet, John Evelyn, as \u201cdelicacies for princes and a lusty and masculine food for rusticks\u201d, while he regretted that all too often they were mere animal fodder.<\/p>\n
Grows best in well-drained loam in sun or partial shade. Propagated by seed sown in autumn.<\/p>\n
Infusions of the leaves are taken for coughs and colds and used as a gargle for sore throats. Also said to be helpful for rheumatism.<\/p>\n
Chestnuts are equally suited to savory and sweet dishes. They are the classic stuffing ingredient for turkey, other poultry and game, make excellent soups, pates, and accompaniments to vegetable and meat dishes. Sweetened pur\u00e9e forms the basis of desserts, especially in France, where chestnuts are also crystallized as \u201cmarrons glac\u00e9s\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A deciduous tree, growing to 15 m (50 ft.) with dark grey, furrowed bark, and Narrow, glossy, serrated-edged leaves. The small white flowers, appearing in spring, are followed by clusters of prickly green spherical fruits, containing 1-3 edible brown nuts. Trees grown in cool, northerly regions do not produce the same quality of large, succulent […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":432,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[109,102,97,119,105,110,127,103,114,94,133,121],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-430","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-acidic-soil","category-clay-soil","category-full","category-green","category-loamy-soil","category-neutral-soil","category-perennial","category-sandy-soil","category-summer","category-tree","category-woody","category-yellow"],"meta_box":{"botanical-name":"Castanea sativa","common-names":"Sweet chestnut, European chestnut, Spanish Chestnut","family":"Fagaceae","flower_bloom_time":[{"term_id":114,"name":"Summer","slug":"summer","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":114,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":112,"count":163,"filter":"raw"}],"flower_color":[{"term_id":119,"name":"Green","slug":"green","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":119,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":116,"count":34,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":121,"name":"Yellow","slug":"yellow","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":121,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":116,"count":76,"filter":"raw"}],"plant_life_cycle":[{"term_id":127,"name":"Perennial","slug":"perennial","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":127,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":84,"count":133,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":133,"name":"Woody","slug":"woody","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":133,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":84,"count":32,"filter":"raw"}],"plant_types":[{"term_id":94,"name":"Tree","slug":"tree","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":94,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":88,"count":29,"filter":"raw"}],"soil_ph":[{"term_id":109,"name":"Acidic Soil","slug":"acidic-soil","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":109,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":108,"count":148,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":110,"name":"Neutral Soil","slug":"neutral-soil","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":110,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":108,"count":158,"filter":"raw"}],"soil_type":[{"term_id":102,"name":"Clay Soil","slug":"clay-soil","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":102,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":101,"count":108,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":105,"name":"Loamy Soil","slug":"loamy-soil","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":105,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":101,"count":179,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":103,"name":"Sandy Soil","slug":"sandy-soil","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":103,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":101,"count":147,"filter":"raw"}],"sun_exposure":[{"term_id":97,"name":"Full","slug":"full","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":97,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":96,"count":197,"filter":"raw"}],"usda_hardiness_zones":"Zone: 5 - 7","region_or_country_of_origin":"Western Asia and Southeastern Europe","plant_mature_size":"
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