Castanea dentata, or American chestnut, native to Ontario and ranges throughout eastern North America, from southern Maine and southern Ontario to Georgia and Mississippi, is a towering tree that can reach heights of 50-75 feet with a similar spread. It prefers full or partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and slightly acidic soil that contains loam, clay or rocky material. Due to chestnut blight, it is critically endangered, and planting non-resistant trees is not recommended except for restoration purposes and to maintain the population. It is messy with its edible nuts enclosed in spiny burrs, large leaf drops in the fall, and occasional twigs or branches while also posing challenges transplanting with its deep taproot. Ongoing breeding programs aim to develop blight-resistant varieties, but for now this tree is planted for conservation efforts. Chinese chestnut (C. mollissima) hybridizes with this species, which makes conservation programs a challenge to protect this species genetic diversity.