• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
GardenFork - Eclectic DIY
  • Email Signup
  • Podcast
  • Articles
  • Video
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Email Signup
  • Podcast
  • Articles
  • Video
  • Follow Me Here:

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Email Signup
    • Podcast
    • Articles
    • Video
  • Follow Me Here:

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Articles » Gardening

    Urban Foraging Chestnut Tree Chestnuts

    by Eric · This post may contain affiliate links, its one way we pay the bills. · 2 Comments

    Bitten by the urban foraging bug, I'm always looking at plants and trees in New York City now. There's lots of food around if you look. On the way to the subway in Park Slope is a Horse Chestnut Tree, and every year the sidewalk is littered with the empty chestnut shells - the squirrels have gotten most of the nuts.

    The nuts are called conkers, which were used to play a game in the UK called conkers as well. The nuts are considered slightly poisonous, though deer eat them.

    The beekeeper and tree nerd in me was wondering whether horse chestnuts were self pollinated or needed a second chestnut tree for pollination, and whether they were insect pollinated or wind pollinated. According to wikipedia the trees are pollinated by birds and insects, and I found a second horse chestnut tree around the corner from this tree. neat.

    "Raw Horse Chestnut seed, leaf, bark and flower are toxic due to the presence of esculin and should not be ingested." says Wikipedia. There are a number of medicinal uses for some of the compounds found in the Horse Chestnut conker, which doesn't surprise me for this cool looking plant.

    Horse Chestnut in Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY

    What interesting nut trees have you found in your area? Let us know below:

    « Inside the Hive: Views from a First Year Beekeeper (Scene 23)
    Cook In A Dutch Oven - Temperature Control »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Philip Dale

      November 28, 2013 at 8:32 am

      Where is the tree? I once collected conkers in Westchester so my colleagues and I could play. I still have a few but would like to replenish my supply.

    2. ben

      September 13, 2022 at 9:30 am

      Hi I found one of these on a tree and it had alot of marbling on it I was wondering if it was rare or anthing like that or it was just normal

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Become a Monthly Supporter of GardenFork. Click Here To Learn More

    Pages

    • About
    • Email Signup
    • Let's Stay Connected With Each Other
    • Maple Syrup Evaporator Information
    • Pizza Oven Plans & Make Pizza Videos
    • Privacy Policy
    • Radio
    • Terms of Use & Affliate Information
    • The GF Amazon Shop
    • Want More GardenFork? Here You Go:

    My lawyer makes me do this part: Visitors agree to our Terms Of Service and Affliate Information - Use This Information At Your Own Risk

    Produced by GardenFork Media LLC, Brooklyn, NY ©2021 All Rights Reserved