Chestnut fruit may not exhibit epigeal dormancy. It may germinate right upon falling to the ground in the autumn, with the roots emerging from the seed right away and the leaves and stem the following spring. The germ can lose viability soon after ripening and under drying conditions.

The superior fruiting cultivars among European chestnuts have good size, sweet taste, and easily removed pellicles (inner skins). American chestnuts are usually very small (around 5 g), but sweet-tasting with easy-to-remove