Chestnut blight
Fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica)
| Type | Fungus |
|---|---|
| Cause | Fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) |
About
Chestnut blight is the reason gardeners plant Chinese chestnuts: the native American chestnut and chinkapins are very susceptible, while Chinese chestnut has good tolerance (University of Missouri). Hybrids with Chinese chestnut resist it best (UC).
Also called chestnut blight, blight (chestnut)
How to recognize it
Where
In California the blight is present but not spreading, and trees there tolerate infection without dying (UC).
What to do, gentlest first
Prevention works best; most sprays only protect healthy leaves and can't cure infected ones. Always read and follow the product label.
Plant tolerant chestnuts Prevent
Plant Chinese chestnuts or resistant hybrids such as Sleeping Giant, Layeroka, Dunstan hybrids, Bouche de Betizac or Precoce Migoule (University of Missouri; UC; NC State).
Colossal, the main California variety, is modestly susceptible (UC).
Plants it affects
Sources
Photo: Photo: Joseph O'Brien, USDA Forest Service / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 (CC BY 3.0). Photo resized for the web.
Planting dates and advice are general guidance; check with your local Cooperative Extension office for your area.