Chestnut plant named ‘AU Gobbler I’

Abstract

‘AU Gobbler I’ is a new and distinct Chinese chestnut cultivar that is precocious and produces a large crop annually of small nuts that mature early and start dropping about August 25. Nut drop continues for a 4 to 5 week period. The nuts mature and start dropping 3-4 weeks before most cultivars. The early nut drop and small nut size of ‘AU Gobbler I’ makes it ideal for use as a food source for turkey and other wildlife species. ‘AU Gobbler I’ is an excellent companion cultivar to ‘AU Gobbler II’ as nut drop begins about 10 days earlier than nut drop of ‘AU Gobbler II’ and extends the season of available food supply for turkey and other wildlife. The major nut drop period of ‘AU Gobbler I’ occurs before the major nut drop period of ‘AU Gobbler II’.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of the species  Castanea mollissima  Blume named ‘AU Gobbler I’ as described and illustrated herein.