13. Castanea burbankii, Burbank Chestnut

 

Castanea burbankii, Burbank Chestnut with seasonal features

Oblong chestnut leaf in an opposite arrangement

 

13. Burbank Chestnut, Castanea burbankii

Artist’s Note:

For me, of all the trees in the arboretum, perhaps the rarest and most unusual specimen is the Burbank chestnut. This is a hybrid—perhaps a cross of the American, the Japanese, the Chinese, the European chestnuts and the California native Chinquapin. Burbank started his quest to develop an orchard tree supplying delicious and nutritious nuts, as chestnut blight simultaneously wiped out millions of acres of American chestnut trees. As a hybrid, Castanea burbankii may be protected by its genetic resistance. The Burbank chestnut survived here and at Gold Ridge Farm. Sadly, there are precious few of these trees in existence. 

 

Unfortunately, this beautiful sentinel tree, standing to the right of the main entrance on Santa Rosa Avenue, has been infected with a fungus and will be removed. Because the soil is infected, another chestnut tree cannot be planted there. This points out the importance of enjoying and experiencing the arboretum, as trees are transitory. Not all of them live long lives. However, I like to hope that someday the resistant genes from the Burbank chestnut will be used once again to reestablish the great forest of American chestnut trees. 

 

Vulgo: Burbank Chestnut

 

Name: Castanea burbankii

 

Family: Fagaceae

Habit: Tree

Height: 115 ft (35 M)

Native to: Hybrid 

 

Leaf type: Simple

 

Shape: Oblong

 

Tip: Aristate

 

Margin: Deeply serrated

 

Venation: Pinnate

 

Surface: Dull, matt

 

Size: 4-12 in (10-30 cm)

 

Arrangement:  Alternate