Chinquapin Chestnut. Circa 1917

1917 American Chinquapin Chestnut: Hybridization by Dr. Walter Van Fleet and watercolor by Mary Daisy Arnold

Art That Funds Restoration

The prints from the eCommerce for Good American Chestnut Collection honor the legacy of the American Chestnut before the devastating chestnut blight killed billions of trees across their native range.

This museum-quality Giclée reproduction print evokes more than the essence of an iconic illustration—it pays homage to the golden age when the American Chestnut was one of the dominant tree species in eastern forests, making up 25% of the eastern Appalachian native forest. The American chestnut was valued for its strong, rot-resistant wood and edible nuts. Each purchased print is a bridge between the historical landscape and future restoration, with half of the purchase price directly supporting restoration development work.

A Storied Tradition

In the early 1900s, when the American Chestnut stood on the brink of functional extinction, botanist Dr. Walter Van Fleet began working on developing blight-resistant chestnut cultivars. Mary Daisy Arnold's watercolor captures Van Fleet's hybrid Chinquapin Chestnut as a testament to his pioneering work at the Bell Experimental Station in Maryland.

Van Fleet's approach involved crossing the American chestnut (his primary chestnut interest) with the Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima) and the Japanese chestnut (Castanea crenata), which had natural resistance to the blight. The Chinquapin (Castanea pumila): Although not a true chestnut, but rather a closely related species, Dr. Van Fleet did some work hybridizing chinquapins, as evidenced by the 1917 Mary Daisy Arnold watercolor of his hybrid chinquapin.

Van Fleet had been fascinated by plant breeding since 1892. By 1916, he'd found his true calling in the Office of Horticultural and Pomological Investigations, where he could pursue his passion for developing new plant varieties and to continue his work with chestnuts.

Mary Daisy Arnold was a talented botanical artist who worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Pomological Division in the early 20th century. As a staff artist, Arnold created highly accurate and detailed watercolor paintings of various fruit and nut cultivars, including this 1917 painting of a chinquapin chestnut hybrid developed by Dr. Walter Van Fleet.

While the Chinquapin Chestnut is not a pure American Chestnut—but rather a closely related species—it represents a critical moment in the scientific efforts to understand and preserve chestnut varieties. These watercolor illustrations are beautiful renditions from the era when the pure American Chestnut was being decimated, serving as poignant historical documents of a rapidly changing ecological landscape.

We are happy to lend this print's beauty and historical significance to the effort of raising donations for the restoration of the pure American Chestnut tree.

Hope for the Future

Today, faculty, scientists, students, and citizen scientist volunteers at SUNY ESF's American Chestnut Research & Restoration Project are continuing the work of innovators like Van Fleet. They are developing blight-tolerant trees that will enable the American Chestnut tree to thrive again in eastern Appalachian forests.

Essence of the Original – Created Just for You

Our reproduction originates from a high-resolution archival scan of the original antique watercolor from the USDA Pomological Collection. Our digital archivists have carefully restored the image, preserving its historical accuracy and botanical detail.

Each fine art print is made to order, ensuring exceptional detail and enduring beauty. Your museum-quality Giclée print arrives with a certificate of authenticity, offering a tangible connection to a remarkable story of American agricultural heritage.

Heritage Print Specifications

• Museum-quality Giclée Print
• Hahnemühle 310gsm German Etching paper
• Archival-grade pigment ings rated for 100+ years
• Certificate of authenticity included
• Fully insured shipping with real-time tracking

For Walls that Whisper History

• Fine Art Print (11" x 14") Museum-quality Giclée print, delivered unframed
• Heritage Framed Edition (14x18") Our signature presentation, featuring your print in a Vermont-crafted solid ash frame with conservation-grade glazing. Select from timeless Black, crisp White, or warm Natural wood finish.

Your Purchase, Their Future, Our Legacy

When you purchase an American Chestnut Collection print, 50% of your purchase price becomes a donation:

• A $25 Donation from the purchase price of each Fine Art Print (without frame)
• The Donation to be determined from the purchase price of each Framed Fine Art Print (framed prints coming soon)

Donation Transparency

Through the purchase of the American Chestnut collection, 50% of the print purchase price becomes a donation that supports American Chestnut tree restoration through a verified, transparent process:

• Upon Purchase, a donation is made in your name to American Chestnut Restoration, Inc earmarked for the ongoing grant supporting the American Chestnut Research & Restoration Project at SUNY ESF (State University of New York, College of Science & Forestry)
• Receive official acknowledgment confirming your contribution
• 100% of customer donations fund critical research grants to SUNY ESF

Preserving Heritage. One Print and One Tree at a Time.