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Chestnut
This elegant, bell-shaped and long-lived tree has deeply-furrowed bark that spirals around the trunk, golden-brown autumn foliage and chartreuse-green burrs from which the prized nuts easily fall. Chestnuts are a starchy nut that can be roasted, boiled or ground for flour and, like its relatives the oak, were food for both humans and animals. Plant in groups to ensure optimal pollination and you will be rewarded with a first harvest after a few short years. Drought tolerant once established. Medium growth rate.
How to grow
Chestnuts are wind pollinated and bear reasonable crops when planted singly, but a nearby tree will assist pollination and boost yields. Choose a site sheltered from hot winds with a deep rich free-draining acid soil. Plant on a mound to avoid 'wet feet' and train to a single trunk. Drought tolerant once established but summer irrigation is recommended in long periods without rain.