All but wiped out in the United States, the chestnut tree became a victim of the virulent chestnut blight, a canker disease that is the only plant pathogen to have virtually eliminated its host. Even with this blight, there is strong optimism that the Castanea dentata tree (chestnut's botanical name), through a diligent effort to seek out and propagate trees showing evidence of strong resistance to the blight, has a sufficient chance of recovery.

Current supplies of chestnut come almost completely from dead trees, standing or fallen. It is a very durable tree and the heartwood will remain even after the sapwood is destroyed. The chestnut wood most often sold is wormy chestnut and it has been attacked by the blight, fallen and been invaded by insects - hence the worm holes and character marks.

In its prime, chestnut accounted for more than one-fourth of all hardwood saw timber in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Pioneers valued the tree for its many bounties - very durable wood, delicious chestnuts and tanning, used to tan leather, derived from both the bark and the wood. It was a popular choice for jobs where durability counted, such as fence posts, telephone poles and railroad ties, but it also was used for furniture, cabinetry and woodwork.

Chestnut has a pale brown to yellow-brown color that resembles white oak. However, it lacks the silver grain of quartered oak that comes from oak's broad rays. While this wood closely resembles white oak, it is lighter in weight and is easier to work. Its grain ranges from straight to spiral and its texture is coarse. Sweet chestnut has medium density and low bending strength, very low stiffness and medium resistance to shock loads.

Sweet chestnut, also known as English, European and Spanish chestnut, has a problem with chemical staining. Blue-black iron stains will occur if the wood comes in contact with iron and moisture. It also corrodes metals such as iron when wet. Its basic acidity accounts for this problem.

The drying process of sweet chestnut takes some care. The wood dries slowly with a tendency to honeycomb, collapse or dry unevenly with pockets of moisture.

Working properties for this wood are satisfactory to good with only a slight blunting effect for cutting tools. It steam bends when air-dry, but when bent in the green state can have serious problems.

Sweet, English, Spanish or European chestnut is praised for its durable heartwood. Its uses include furniture and cabinetry, domestic ware and specialty items. It is also an excellent wood for high-durability uses such as fencing and gates. Chestnut staves are used to make barrels for holding juice, wine and other foodstuffs. Chestnut also is used to make handles and is a popular wood for canes.