Greensboro College to Honor Former Professor with Dunstan Chestnut Tree Planting
Descendants of Dr. Robert T. Dunstan to Join College in Planting Six Donated Chestnut Trees
Greensboro, NC (11/04/2026) — Greensboro College will celebrate the legacy of former professor and pioneering plant breeder Dr. Robert T. Dunstan with the planting of six Dunstan Chestnut trees on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at 11 a.m. The event will begin in front of Hanes Gym, located at 815 W. Market St.
The planting will honor Dunstan's contributions to horticulture and his 36-year career at Greensboro College, where he served as a professor of Romance languages from 1927 to 1963.
Four trees will be planted on Greensboro College's main campus, while two will be planted at the president's residence. The trees were donated by Dunstan's grandson and great-grandson, who will be on campus to participate in the planting. A commemorative marker will also accompany the trees, recognizing Dunstan's legacy and connection to the College.
Although his professional career centered on teaching languages, Dunstan developed a passion for plant breeding that led to significant advancements in grape cultivation and the development of the Dunstan Chestnut, a hybrid chestnut tree known for its resistance to chestnut blight.
Born in Windsor, North Carolina, in 1901, Dunstan attended Trinity College, now Duke University, before earning his doctorate in Romance languages from the University of Wisconsin. In 1927, at just 26 years old, he became one of Greensboro College's youngest department heads.
Outside the classroom, Dunstan conducted plant breeding experiments at his Greensboro home near what is now Four Seasons Town Centre. His early work focused on developing hybrid grape varieties that could withstand diseases affecting European vineyards. His research ultimately contributed to efforts to protect vineyards in France and earned him international recognition.
Dunstan later turned his attention to the American chestnut, a tree that had been devastated by chestnut blight during the early 20th century. After receiving cuttings from a surviving American chestnut tree discovered in Ohio, he began crossing the species with Chinese chestnuts, which possessed natural resistance to the disease.
His work resulted in the Dunstan Chestnut, a hybrid combining the blight resistance of Chinese chestnuts with the larger nuts and vigorous growth of American chestnuts. According to Chestnut Hill Nursery, Dunstan Chestnuts are the most widely planted chestnut trees in America.
Following his retirement, Dunstan relocated to Florida, where he continued his horticultural research. His grandson, Robert Wallace, later helped expand the reach of the Dunstan Chestnut through Chestnut Hill Nursery & Farms in Alachua, Florida.
The upcoming planting represents a meaningful connection between Greensboro College's history and Dunstan's lasting scientific legacy. With members of his family returning to campus to help plant the donated trees, the event will celebrate both his contributions to horticulture and the generations who have helped preserve his work.
Greensboro College students, faculty, staff, alumni and members of the surrounding community are invited to attend.
Event Details
What: Dunstan Chestnut Tree Planting
When: Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at 11 a.m.
Where: In front of Hanes Gym, Greensboro College, 815 W. Market St., Greensboro, NC
For nearly two centuries Greensboro College provides a liberal arts education grounded in the traditions of the United Methodist Church and fosters the intellectual, social, and, spiritual development of all students while supporting their individual needs.
Founded in 1838 and located in downtown Greensboro, the college enrolls about 1,000 students from 29 states and territories, the District of Columbia, and seven foreign countries in its undergraduate liberal-arts program and six master's degree programs. In addition to rigorous academics and a well-supported Honors program, the school features a 18-sport NCAA Division III athletic program and dozens of service and recreational opportunities.
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