A Tree a Week: Chestnut Oak

“Within the bark of the chestnut oak echoes the quiet wisdom of seasons past, a stoic guardian of nature’s secrets, and a living testament to the beauty found in steadfast endurance.”

- Unknown

Some might say that the beginning of our Arboretum was actually in 2021, when the Spiritual Life League of Chatham Hall designated six sacred outdoor contemplative spaces on campus, including the giant Chestnut oak that is across from Dabney Hall. Offering a respite to students and staff alike, as well as to a host of local wildlife, during COVID, this century-old tree quickly became known as our “Community Tree.”

Though the Chestnut oak is thought of as a medium-sized tree, growing up to 80 feet tall, ours is the center stage of our front lawn, with stout branches that bow down low enough to climb. Situated at the entrance of our walking path, the Chestnut oak invites sightseers to go the distance into town, readily visible coming and going with its tall, rounded crown and large, toothed leaves. Right now, the fall foliage is also distinctive with a range of warm hues from yellow to orange and brown. 

A deciduous tree in the white oak family, the Chestnut oak is native to the eastern and central USA, including the mountains of Virginia. In the spring, separate male and female flowers appear, and are followed by large acorns that are a wildlife staple throughout all seasons. New foliage first unfurls as pink and takes on a silver hue before finally becoming dark green. Leaves are obovate, narrowing near the base and end. Songbirds and squirrels flock to its branches, and mice, moles, and voles scurry around its trunk, foraging for acorns. 

For anyone interested in a scavenger hunt, we are harvesting the acorns of our adored community tree right now. The acorns are more than one inch long, ovoid in shape, and often are found without their caps if they have matured.

The Chestnut Oak gets its name from the American Chestnut (Chatham Hall also has an American Chestnut on campus), as its leaves look very similar to those of the American Chestnut. However, unlike the American Chestnut, which has been decimated over the years by the chestnut blight, the Chestnut Oak is very hearty. It can thrive in poor, rocky, dry soils and even on steep hillsides, and its strong, durable wood is good for timber. Additionally, its bark is high in tannin content and was heavily used in the leather tanning industry prior to the 20th century. The Chestnut Oak’s scientific species name montana means “of the mountains.” The Chestnut Oak is recognized as a Virginia "Big Tree" champion with a circumference of 279 inches and a height of 127 feet.