Castanea mollissima

• BOTANICAL NAME: Castanea mollissima
• PRONUNCIATION: kas-TA-ne-a mol-LIS-i-ma
• COMMON NAME: Chinese Chestnut
• FAMILY: Fagaceae
• NATIVITY: China, Korea
• GROWTH HABIT: Round-topped, spreading, sturdy form with low branches; 40'-60' tall. Slow to medium growth rate.
• HARDINESS: Zone 4-8
• CULTURE: Full sun, well-drained soils; tolerant of hot, dry conditions. Requires space for wide-spreading natural form.
• LANDSCAPE USE: Transplanting may be hampered by a taproot. Flowers with highly disagreeable, rancid odor. Edible fruit attracts squirrels.
• FOLIAGE: Alternate, simple, 5"-8" long, elliptic to lanceolate. Veins end in sharp pointed teeth. Shiny dark-green.
• BUDS: Rounded, 1/8" with 2-3 scales; tan in color.
• BARK: Young branches olive-brown in color, mature bark ridged and furrowed gray-brown in color.
• FRUIT: Nut, 2" across, 2-3 enclosed in a lethal, spiny involucre (hull). Edible fruit develops when multiple varieties are present.
• PROPAGATION: Seed or cuttings.
• PESTS: Resistant to (not immune to) Chestnut blight (disease).
• CULTIVARS:
  • 'Abundance'
  • 'Kuling' (Selections for nut production)
  • 'Meiling'
  • 'Nanking'