Chestnut - Belle Epine

Pedigree: sativa
Origin: France
Chestnut blight susceptible: Yes
Bloom time: Mid to late season
Median female flowers: 2
Maximum female flowers: 3
Tree growth habit: fast growing with medium height
Harvest: late season - one of the latest to drop
Nut per lb: 22
Production: Medium Pellicle: Occasional intrusion into the kernel
Split kernels: Some
Pollen: Good late season pollinator
Cold Hardy: -10F

Cultivar discussion:
Belle Epine is a French cultivar of pure European ancensitory. It is a good pollen producer. Does well even in the cool summers. Partially self fertile and is used as a pollinator for other late chestnuts such as Marrone and Marigoule. This is the last cultivar to drop its nuts in the fall. Nut size is medium to large. Produces nuts in the 4th or 5th year after the grafted tree is transplanted. Nuts are a pretty mahogany color.

Pictures of the Belle Epine chestnut tree in bloom





Belle Epine chestnuts shortly after harvest