Chestnut, Chinese
Castanea mollissima
Fagaceae - Beech and Oak
Description
Leaves: Alternate; simple; elliptic-oblong to oblong-lanceolate; 4" to 8" long, 2" to 3" wide; deciduous; coarsely and sharply serrate margin with bristle or hair tipped teeth; acuminate apex; thin; yellow-green; with whitish to greenish soft hair beneath; petiole 1/4" to 1/2" long, hairy.
Twigs/buds: Twigs stout; green-brown; hairy. No terminal bud; lateral buds 1/8" to 1/4" long, brown, with 2 or 3 scales, pubescent.
Flowers/fruit: Monoecious. Flowers small; male on semi-upright catkins; female individual or in small groups, appearing when leaves are near fully grown. Fruit a 2" to 2-1/2" diameter bur, splits at maturity into 2 to 4 sections, covered with sharp, branched spines; bur encloses 2 to 3 edible nuts, 1/2" to 1" wide.
Bark: Thick; dark brown to gray-brown; furrowed into broad, flat ridges.
Wood: Not important in U.S. American chestnut (Castanea dentata) wood was very important before the species was nearly wiped out by chestnut blight; sapwood narrow and almost white; heartwood gray-brown to brown and darker with age; growth rings very distinct; ring-porous; soft; durable; rot resistant; used for furniture, poles, posts, ties.
General: Native to northern China and Korea. Resistant but not immune to chestnut blight. Intermediate shade tolerance, but likes full sun and heat. Fruit and/or plant part can be nuisances; use fruitless varieties if possible.
Landscape Use: This medium to large tree can be planted in Utah, but there may be some cold-hardiness problems in the coldest valley sites. It can be used as a landscape tree but the burs and nuts produced can be messy. Zones 4-9.
Cultivars: 'Kuling', 'Meiling', and 'Nanking' – All selections for higher nut production.
Characteristics
General
Family | Fagaceae - Beech and Oak |
---|---|
Cultivar Availability | Yes |
Hardiness Zone | 4-9 |
Type | Broadleaf |
Utah Native | No |
Growth
Growth Rate | Medium |
---|---|
Mature Height | Low |
Longevity | Medium |
Is Good Under Power Lines | No |
Crown Shapes | Rounded |
Ornamental
Bark | No |
---|---|
Fall Color | No |
Flowers | Yes |
Foliage | Yes |
Fruit | Yes |
Tolerance
Shade | Low |
---|---|
Salt | Medium |
Drought | Medium |
Poor Drainage | Medium |
Alkalinity | Medium |
Transplanting | Medium |