The (Darling 58) Chestnut Tree: Bringing Back an American Icon | William Powell | Stories of Impact

Billions of American Chestnut trees used to grow in America-and then a fungal blight spread throughout its native range. By the 21st century, this population had all but disappeared.
Using revolutionary technology, the American Chestnut Research & Restoration Project aims to resuscitate the Castanea dentata. In this Stories of Impact video, William A. Powell (SUNY ESF) and Rex Mann (The American Chestnut Foundation) discuss the American chestnut and their goal of restoring the iconic tree to its former glory. Supported by the Templeton World Charity Foundation, this first-of-its-kind project is engineering the blight-resistant Darling 58 (D58) American chestnut tree and reintroducing it to its native habitat.
Learn more: www.esf.edu/chestnut/about.asp
Be the first to know about RFPs, upcoming grants and opportunities. Sign up to our newsletter today: templetonworldcharity.us9.lis...

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

I grew up with an ENORMOUS American chestnut tree in my backyard as a kid in the 90s. My friend still lives in the neighborhood, and every time I go see him, I expect the tree to be sick, dead, or gone, but it’s still standing and looks good, I hope it lives forever. It’s got to be around 100’ tall and 7 or 8’ at the base. I hope this succeeds, I’ll not see the old giants again in my lifetime but I’ll be glad that future generations will.

[@mrmadness2699]

Sure it’s not a Horsechestnut or Chinese Chestnut? I had a friend excitedly bring me out to his property to see “a legit American Chestnut” only to find it was a Hickory tree.

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

@@mrmadness2699 100% certain. They’re functionally extinct, not actually extinct. Big hardwood trees live a LONG time, even sick ones. I’d be shocked at this point if it doesn’t outlive me.

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

@@mrmadness2699 And anyone that confuses any kind of chestnut with a hickory should probably spend less time in the woods before they hurt themselves, haha!

[@mrmadness2699]

@@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney He was what we like to call an “indoor kid”

[@mrmadness2699]

@@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney I’m still skeptical though. American Chestnut gets knocked back to the roots before it gets very big.

[@markyoung5566]

If every Appalachian Trail Hiker would plant a tree along the trail we could start seeding trees from Georgia to Maine! Let’s get it done!

[@j754marto4]

Nice Idea, go supply the trailheads where people could pick them up on the way out hiking. Interesting idea you had.

[@user-ft7mz4sl5h]

@@j754marto4 يي

[@OppoA-kd2cm]

@@j754marto4 .ภม

[@edmartin875]

So has the feds authorized their dispersal ?

[@MichaelSmith-ej9uv]

Pure American Chestnut will get blight and not produce

[@garyburchett9060]

I know of a place in southern Indiana where American chestnuts are growing at this time. My father found a seedling in West Virginia, and planted it in his yard thirty five years ago. It's still growing, and reseeding his yard.

[@darthmaul216]

Hopefully none of them get the blite

[@texican40]

I want some seeds

[@victorvicente6356]

Could you sell me seeds ?

[@katiesiouxlamoureaux7757]

❤️

[@ufoinsider6932]

I would really love to get a few nuts or seedlings to plant in my area. I just learned about the chestnut and would like to help repopulate them. How can I do so?

[@samsalin]

26 years of life and I never knew we were just missing a whole tree species, I feel like this is something I should have learned in school..

[@mansoorqureshi4141]

T

[@mrmadness2699]

More than just one

[@nonyadamnbusiness9887]

And Elm, and Ash, and Butternut, and Flowering Dogwood are on their way out.

[@mrmadness2699]

@@nonyadamnbusiness9887 have you heard of Beech leaf disease? Beech is dying in large numbers in the Midwest and New England

[@nonyadamnbusiness9887]

@@mrmadness2699 New one to me. I'd bet it's another Chinese import. Beech take so long to grow, this one will be difficult to fix.

[@littlsuprstr]

"A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in."

[@mrmadness2699]

@Sen Se How common are chestnut trees in the woods in Germany? I know the tree is mostly found in the Southeast, but is it common in the woods there? Is it a tree that’s mostly planted by humans, or is it able to compete with oak (Eiche) and reproduce in the wild by itself? Everything I’ve read about American Chestnut is that it was a very strong competitor in the woods (and can be again).

[@lukeirwin7214]

Outstanding job by all. Not only restoring trees but also my faith in humanity.

[@namentatic4978]

I was born in Europe, in the city Kostajnica (Chestnut). We had all mountings with chestnuts. I am in Va, now, and I have ordered 12 plants of chestnuts. I should get them in few weeks, and plant them in my green house first. In the Spring, they will go to my honey bees farm land. I like chestnut's honey, and I like to have these noble trees on my land. Even my neighbors do not know what is that. :)

[@robertbates6057]

Are they American?

[@edmartin875]

The blight was started from imported trees. I hope a new disease that may affect American trees will not be imported.

[@Lumpy-Grits-and-Jowls]

Bought 2 about 7 years ago disease resistant hybrids! Both look great. One producing nuts. One not but growing tall. Live in the Ozarks!

[@lawrencejones7752]

I liked it very much, but wish Herb Darling of the Buffalo area was mentioned. He has played a huge role in helping fund this research and moving it forward. In fact, the resistant American chestnut variety is called Darling-58 after him.

[@anthonybuono02809]

Kudos to the dedicated team who are committed to preserving our forests.

[@thomasmanning829]

I planted about 20 American Chestnut seedlings on my Oregon coast property about 30 years ago. They are still thriving. There's no Chestnut blight on the Oregon coast, I purchased my seedlings from a nursery in Washington State, where as far as I know there is also no blight. They upright like a timber tree as opposed to other species.

[@bluesky6985]

When they grow alone they branch 🌿 out and make shade trees. When in a forest they grow straight up.

[@thomasmanning829]

@@bluesky6985 My American Chestnut trees had an upright growth, unlike European or Korean Chestnuts. They grew straight and talk. Chinese Chestnuts are round and not talk not unlike fruit trees.

[@DoeMeNeek]

Oooh! I live in Eugene, was wondering if they would grow in Oregon! I need to find one to plant on my property!!!

[@matthewhuang9588]

Do they produce seeds?

[@thomasmanning829]

@@matthewhuang9588 yes they do.

[@markyoung5566]

God Bless your efforts Dr. Powell and all your staff.

[@blooky102]

I actually found American chestnuts online and I'm excited to plant them.

[@alvinramsey9372]

I would definitely be interested in purchasing some of those trees to plant . I live in Western North Carolina and would absolutely love to completely cover my property in American Chestnut.

[@jhawk1897]

WNC rules!

[@pkop4]

"A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit." -- Greek proverb

[@chriswhitesell8079]

Wonderful 👏

[@bruceotte8274]

Get these approved for release asap!

[@emmahardesty4330]

Thrilling for so many of us, who've missed this grand, exceptionally beautiful and bountiful tree since we heard of it's sweeping demise. Many people are now growing chestnuts once again.

[@paulolima6407]

Please bring back the American chestnut tree! It's an absolutely beautiful and necessary cause!

[@saw2814]

I planted 2 American Chestnut trees in my yard last year. My Grandparents talked about them when I was a kid, I remembered wishing they could be brought back. I live west of the Mississippi now, but there are a couple old growth trees in Iowa so some grew here in the past.

[@woodsy3495]

Pay attention to how big they can grow. 10' diameter and 100' tall! That's approaching Sequoia dimensions in diameter. There some astonishing pictures of these enormous trees on the internet. An entire Appalachian culture revolved around them. A truly significant species.

[@thomasmanning829]

The Chestnut tree was very important to our pioneers. It works like Alder but is strong and durable. It was in fact used as fence posts and railroad ties. It also produces the sweetest Chestnut of all the varieties.

[@edmartin875]

LOL. You may still be able to find a few rows of Willow Trees that started out as fence post west of the Mississippi River. I grew up in the 50's and I remember see those rows many times.

[@danielzielinski6410]

I'm ready to start planting!!!! I've been planting Chinese just because I didn't want to plant something that would guarantee die. Id cut them down tomorrow if the became available

[@TomSarracino]

God bless you guys ❤🙏❤️

[@kbkesq]

I’m frankly amazed that there weren’t any wild chestnut trees that survived the original blight that we could use as scion for breeding them.

[@blakespower]

well they live in Oregon without the blight.

[@ardicesaugar5475]

I want to plant some on my property in Washington State@@blakespower

[@davidjones9518]

Good conservation

[@jamessullivan9992]

I want one an would pay $100 to have one. I have a small farm in east Tennessee an have been trying to grow American chestnut's for 30 years and they always die .

[@GrottoGroveGroves]

i live in east Tennessee as well. i am aware of where a few amercian chestnut trees are on private propertys and grove of sorts in the national forrest.

[@brianadams786]

@@GrottoGroveGroves I live in North East TN. Can you please tell me where I can find them. I collect chestnuts the past few years and I have been trying to plant some. I don't know if they're American or the Dunstan

[@DavidWilliamsisslpdave]

@@brianadams786 The location of the trees is highly secreted. The grove that was mentioned is used to get the genetic material that a lot of the researchers are using. I live in East Tennessee also, but don't want to take a chance on harming the grove that survived.

[@jamessampson964]

I'm 53 and when I was a young boy my father took me to gather chestnuts just down from our house. Man they were good and I pray they are able to save them.

[@RobertMeany]

Signed up to volunteer with the ACF!

[@alisonburgess345]

i have a couple of trees I grew from seeds in my large garden in Australia. Can they be pruned to keep their size in check, like other fruit trees? Good luck with your work on this - what a nightmare to have lost such an important tree from your entire country!

[@w8stral]

Year, late, but if you have not already found out... they are a FAST growing tree, that grows GIANT and tall. Good luck keeping it small.

[@CuriousMindedMedia]

LONG LIVE THE CHESTNUT!

[@jimlane2961]

I Plan on planting 6 on our IOWA ACRE !!! WE'RE BUYING AT -STARK BROTHER,S !!!

[@stevemiller7949]

Excellent segment as far as it goes. Seems to me restration will be multipronnged. You did not mention the Dunston chestnut, and you did not address concerns about creating frankenplants completely. Still, the Darling 58 is very exciting for anyone who cares about the environment.😊😊😊😊❤

[@jennifercash1536]

I have quiet a few Chestnut Trees! 🥰

[@jennifercash1536]

Mine are huge though! Just moved to our 8 acres of land and just learning. I’ll never cut any of my Chestnut Trees down! I have many green growing Chestnuts. Love this!

[@bobbyhorn7059]

I would like to have some to plant on my property in SW VA.

[@MichaelBrown-zp1sf]

I do believe that sometime in the not too distant future a variety will be developed that can withstand this blight and from that point man will have to establish beachheads in various places around its historical range and at that point I believe this king of the forest will spread its seed far and wide and reclaim its rightful place in the ecosystem.

[@kennethwhatley2416]

I would love to purchase some of these trees to plant on my property in LaGrange, Georgia.

[@caladvwlch10]

Beautiful tree

[@glennnile7918]

Wow. This would only be possible in my dreams. I really hope it is true. Making sure it doesn't harm anything? Do you mean like wiping out 4 billion American Chestnut trees? Do you mean like that kind of environmental damage? Please bring back the American Chestnut.

[@GreenDolphinProject]

While I know such things go on, I never realised this specifically was happening...and as a lab scientist that utilizes bacteria for gene expression, I found it even more interesting!

[@RajenMurmu-nh8mk]

😂🎉6

[@wbriggs111]

The blite doesn't kill the trees till they start growing nuts. They grow about 5 years then they die off. They usually grow from a old dead chestnut stump.

[@GizmoFromPizmo]

YAY! They said the magic words! Go down to the pay window and pick up your check!

[@mike-yp1uk]

I was wondering why I can't find one since I've been studying tree types. This explains it all.

[@Thoughmuchistaken]

Guess what leaves frogs also do better on, Ash, the next problem. Like others I have reservations about allowing release of Darling 58, still it's good work along with other efforts. If you have some land and want to plant chestnuts consider planting other native trees as well, ones that may not be represented currently on your property.

[@edmartin875]

Many native trees live naturally in certain regions of the country and not others. Planting one where it does not grow naturally is how the blight started in the first place. Just because you do not grow a certain species is no reason to just plant a tree that may not thrive.

[@anthonydooley224]

I think the biggest obstacle in restoration of this tree is government regulation. The USDA is responsible for most of the food and agriculture problems we currently face. Regenerative farming and doing things with in harmony with nature instead of chemical fertilizers and herbicides has proven to be best.

[@edmartin875]

The USDA supports big Agribusiness which promotes monoculture farming of what makes them the most money.

[@ReturningtoBasics]

Dr. Powell, I have 40 acres in the north Arkansas Ozarks and would be willing to help you by planting some of your trees when the time comes. I've planted 4 Chinese and 1 Dunstan Chestnut on my farm already. Please let me know. Thanks... Dr. Neal Vickers

[@commentingisawasteoftime7195]

I think you're going to have to track them down as researchers aren't the one who posted this video.

[@nealwvickers]

@@commentingisawasteoftime7195 Thanks. I'll do my research. I appreciate the response and information.

[@williamfelts7530]

I heard on other channels there are a few original American chestnut trees still alive and very big and old the way a heard it told is people that moved out of the natural range of the chestnut took seeds and trees with them and they were geographically far enough away the blight did not affect them I'd love before I pass away to see a original American chestnut tree full of burrs and stay and watch the burrs ripen and fall off the tree

[@murtamp9828]

Never plant a tree for yourself plant one for those that come after.

[@mattkriz8653]

ALWAYS!

[@markyoung5566]

I will plant them for whatever reason but my intent is to plant at least 100 when they become available.

[@aaronlohr8477]

That's stupid. I plant trees for myself all the time.

[@mattpeacock5208]

I wish they could bring back the billions of passenger pigeons with that tree!

[@sowhat5939]

any idea when resistant trees could purchased for planting

[@GaryBickford]

Another very valuable foundation tree that is disappearing is the White Oak. The USS Constitution ("Old Ironsides") is made from white oak. There was a symbiotic relationship between this tree and the now-extinct Carrier Pigeon. The white oak produced its acorns at the time of year when carrier pigeons were raising their young, and the poop fertilized the trees. Folks have talked about bringing the pigeon back with DNA work, but it's not obvious that modern society would be happy with the massive amount of bird poop that could be involved. I guess that starlings in their huge flocks have filled in the niche to an extent.

[@edmartin875]

Starlings are also an imported species that has spread like wildfire to the detriment of American species.

[@GaryBickford]

@@edmartin875 yes. To a great extent they filled the niche formerly held by carrier pigeons, but then also spread across the continent and replaced other species. Their flocks are large and their nesting sites can be bad for the homeowners beneath them, but imagine that carrier pigeon flocks were two orders of magnitude larger, in some cases reportedly "passing overhead for several days". That's a lot of guano!:P

[@allencrossland1973]

How do you get seedlings to plant?

[@chadtraywick2286]

There is a 30 ft chestnut growing behind my neighbors house here in south central Tennessee on the Cumberland Plateau

[@browner8125]

I hope it works for the American Chestnut. Efforts to restore American Elm with disease resistant cultivars has proven futile for almost 100 years now. Beech is all but gone. Ash is currently going through it's die out. Butternut has suffered a similar fate. Interesting refute to some of the info in this video. Conflicting numbers on the pervasiveness of the American Chestnut exist. 1 in 4 is the high side. 1 in 12 to 1 in 16 trees in the eastern forest is the low side. With a more modest interpretation of historical data putting it around 1 in 10 trees. Of course that would be an average over it's entire historical range. Certainly like many trees pure or nearly pure stands of Chestnut could have and most likely did exist. Helped out by it's large yeild of nuts. Also some evidence points that native American in some areas actually cleared forest of competing species to help increase their food source. Without a doubt no matter the true original numbers of this tree it is certainly an important species.

[@olsonlr]

How many naturally resistant trees survived the blight? Being used for a restart?

[@jamesalanstephensmith7930]

I’m in! Looking to permaculture a fruit and nut orchard. I would love to plant them.

[@jayham1970]

With the loss of three-billion trees like that of the American chestnut, I have a hypothesis that that was when our climate changes began. You cannot lose that many large, great trees - enough trees to absorb millions of tons of CO2 and produce enough oxygen for every man, woman, child, and animal on the planet - and not reap some horrifying environmental and climate change results. Our planet survives by these great trees, and when they are gone, the human race and animals suffer (will suffer) the consequences. It is imperative that we save and restore our native forests to a healthy status. When these chestnuts finally receive approval, I will be planting as many as I can.

[@dennisnebgen9049]

I would love to plant these trees on my property. Where and when can we get hold of some?

[@robertbates6057]

The American Chestnut Foundation sells hybrids to members.

[@bradleybrown5614]

How do I get on a list to receive Darling 58's for my land after it is approved later this year or next?

[@ronmesser9091]

You can take some 20 inch cuttings from these resistant big tree's and put root grower on it and get a 2- 3 year sapling headstart on your American Chestnut

[@mindpuzzle81]

I look at it from an economic standpoint. 4 billion trees producing an average of 1 ton of nuts per tree. Let's say humans were collecting about 10 percent for economic purposes. At an economic value of 1200 dollars per ton. Thats 480 billion dollars of economic value wiped out from the Appalachian communities much of that going to working class folks. Add in another 400 billion in lumber value a year and your looking a tree with an economic value of nearly 1 trillion dollars at current market price. Then you have the environmental impact of this tree which likely was one of the single most contributing factor not only the local climate but likely the entire region. These trees were one of the most important trees economically for Americans a foundation for a forest but also like a foundation for household economics as well. Given the timing of the death of the American chestnut I have to wonder if it had a major impact on the great depression. That level of economic value to local communities across much of the United States would have been absolutely devastating.

[@fjwrt]

Are these available yet?

[@ricktimmons458]

i am 68 lived in Alabama all my lie. long ago a friend at work brought me some and they were great. As a scout leader i would like to get these trees planted. how do i get any?

[@kristendavenport6978]

I am curious whether any research has been done to see if the blight-resistant tree passes along its blight resistance to subsequent generations?

[@aaronseltzer6156]

They have been able to establish this including though actual controlled breeding. If bred with a non-modified tree 50% of the offspring will have the gene, but there is a straightforward test to determine which ones have this.

[@edmartin875]

That was part of the research being done. It does no good to develop a species that requires a lab to propagate every individual tree.

[@trevawhitmoyer682]

I want to help bring the American Chestnut Tree back! 🖐

[@airborne5774]

I wish I could get a couple seedlings to plant here in eastern Oklahoma I saw one chestnut Tre in northwest Arkansas ten years ago I don't know if it's still there

[@nickposten4847]

Anyone have any information or experience with Dunstan chestnuts?

[@ThomasSmith-os4zc]

The firefly mated on the American Chestnut.

[@Floccini]

I'm all for this but are US forests less diverse now considering that we brought in new tree (and other plant) species along with the diseases?

[@dpetem]

The Chinese Chestnut did not replace the American, its too small and it does not propagate well in the wild.

[@michaela723]

Where can I get one of this trees.... please I have 15 acres to plant a couple of them ....

[@philippelacaille4382]

I want some. Are they available???

[@aaronseltzer6156]

Not yet, they are waiting for regulatory approval before they can distribute them. In the meantime you could potentially plant American Chestnut "mother trees" to breed with the transgenic ones when they become available to boost their genetic diversity. nysufc.org/chestnut-tree-restoration-update/2018/05/10/

[@mattabel9066]

I have land for some chestnut. Where do I start? Where can I get some to plant?

[@user-et4gf9tm7n]

Need some here in mississippi

[@anthonypoole6901]

Im about to plant a bag full of chess nuts here on my property.. i got around 150 to get seedlings started out of!

[@sl5311]

They are growing in Lawrence, Kansas.

[@martybrasher]

I think it was done by the government. To bring the tree back you need to get rid of that blight that is still there.

[@whattowatchrightnow]

When? I will plant every seedling I get!

[@olsonlr]

Plant them in reclaimed strip mines. Barren ground ready for planting

[@tjrubicon5463]

Will the acid make the nuts taste bad?

[@Qingeaton]

Is it assumed that the seed of these trees will be blight tolerant?

[@coachmanuel7685]

Can it grow in Houston Texas?

[@mr.puddles5246]

As long as the soil is not limestone or clay based, yes. Some limestone is tolerable, but Clay is absolutely not good.

[@katiesiouxlamoureaux7757]

❤️❤️

[@jamesstepp1925]

I will personally buy, seed or saplings, and plant 100 blight resistant trees myself if/when they become available.

[@jacksprat7087]

Where can we get these seedlings? I had one American Chestnut on my property (central Oklahoma) but a flood took it out about 15 years ago. I would really like to plant some there.

[@donglebookpromax6405]

They are illegal to sell and heavily regulated. There is no reason for these regulations. The only reason is that people get scared when they hear the words genetic engineering

[@shaunaoneal5866]

I would love to help I'm from Transylvania county North Carolina. My Appalachian heritage is very important to me let me know how I can help.

[@josephpearlman4010]

I wonder if they would grow in North Florida? We have Asian Chestnuts in the area.

[@RuthCampagna]

We grow Dunstan Chestnuts in Citrus County. Bought as saplings 8 years ago in Alachua, so you definitely can grow them in North Florida.

[@timliggett5088]

I would love to get some of the genetically altered trees added to my farm in northern Arkansas

[@adamwiseman5831]

I'll plant trees! ✋️

[@Brando23Commando]

Were dealing with the Asian Longhorn beetle. Maple trees are being affected.

[@phuongnguyenvlog4519]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@ardicesaugar5475]

Are the nuts (fruit) of this new tree GMO? Are they safe to eat? Do they taste as good as the original trees?

[@jessicaballard5668]

Did it work?? Did they bring it back??? Asking from 2022

[@misst1586]

I have a chestnut in my backyard

[@davidmay3504]

Why is this approach the one used? I thought it was a phenomenal idea until I read about Steve Bost. He's helping resurrect the Ozark chestnut, and some of his trees are tested as more resistant to blight than the Chinese chestnuts are. And it was simply using the natural resistance built up by the Ozarks naturally. He just gave them a chance. Why can't that be done with the American chestnut?

[@hungryplant3849]

@David May I agree, this is so sad what they are doing. It's like they are trying to destroy any chance it may have to come back

[@mrmadness2699]

The Ozark Chinkapin is a shrub that has multiple trunks and matures faster. By its growth form it’s already much harder for the blight to kill the whole shrub. So it continued to reproduce and evolution took its course. Conversely American Chestnut is functionally extinct. The trunks usually don’t live long enough to flower. And it needs another flowering chestnut within 300’ to pollenate to produce seeds. The Chestnut has had 120 years to develop resistance (or the blight to become hypovirulent) and it’s just not happening on its own.

[@stephenbost542]

@@mrmadness2699 The Ozark chinquapin was reduced from a tree to a stump sprout because of the blight. What we have now is a blight resistant tree once again.

[@CampingforCool41]

There’s a lot of fear mongering around genetic engineering, most of it completely unwarranted. This is what it should be used to do.

[@Windyhillfarm71]

I want to help

[@Charlotte-xh4lt]

This is science. Be thankful for scientists for careing. Just saying.

[@emariaenterprises]

Why don't you graft a healthy branch into the remaining root structure?

[@jacksprat7087]

I would rather plant the nuts than order the seedlings. Where can I order nuts from the genetically modified variety?

[@Jrlambert-vg9pi]

Nowadays ppl don't care. I'm doing all I can to reforest this native tree. I've personally planted over 20,000 chestnut trees. I have 3000+ on my farm and have 30+ acres reserved for 100% Americans.

[@Finnmark4]

Can an American Chestnut be propagated from cuttings?

[@PANTTERA1959]

We're as much a part of nature as a tree or deer.