Tag Archives: Castanea sativa


Winter colour and texture


Winter colour and texture, 2.3.18 – Castanea sativa or sweet chestnut. The bark of a sweet chestnut is quite distinctive, and often looks like a cloth draped over branches as it spirals upwards. Winter colour and texture, 2.3.18 – frozen pond Winter colour and texture, 2.3.18 – Wild flower seed heads in snow Winter colours and textures, 28.2.18 – Eucalyptus glaucescens, or Tingiringi gum Winter colours and textures, 28.2.18 – Hamamelis mollis ‘Nymans’ or witch hazel. These always look far too delicate for winter but seem to tolerate anything the British weather throws at them. Winter colours and textures, 28.2.18 […]

Castanea sativa or sweet chestnut


Castanea sativa or sweet chestnut – from Old Men of the Woods portfolio at Wisley. Around 100 to 150 years old, these could live up to 700 years. So, like the Giant Redwoods, mere teenagers. Both of these trees are in the area threatened by the A3 widening scheme. Although the fruit has become part of winter or Christmas tradition, the chestnut is not a native species and is thought to have been introduced to the British Isles by the Romans. The Greeks dedicated the sweet chestnut to the god Zeus and its botanical name castanea comes from Castonis, a […]