Best time to see: all year
Key facts
A tall, spreading tree with rugged, grey-brown bark, becoming twisted as it ages; growing up to 30m
Long (up to 20cm) leaves are toothed, with soft spines; round spiny fruit follow long yellowish catkins
Introduced from southern Europe by the Romans and widely planted as a coppice tree, producing rot-proof stakes
![](../images/plants/sweet chestnut leaves ().jpg)
© unknown
![](../images/plants/sweet chestnut trunk (OWK).jpg)
© Owen Keen
![](../images/plants/sweet chestnut stool (AG).jpg)
© Tony Gunton