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Castanea mollissima is often confused with:
Castanea henryi
Fagus grandifolia Form
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Carya illinoinensis Carya illinoinensis
Diospyros virginiana Form
Fagus grandifolia Form

Castanea mollissima

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
kas-TAY-nee-uh maw-LISS-ih-muh
Description

This big tree can reach a height and spread of about 40 feet, with a symmetrical and round crown. It braches close to the ground makes it a good landscape tree. The smell of the flower might be offensive to some people. The nut is edible, attracts wild life, but needs to be cautious because it is spiny. It is resistant to chestnut blight.

VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Castanea mollissima 'Abundance'
  • Castanea mollissima 'Crane'
  • Castanea mollissima 'Kuling'
  • Castanea mollissima 'Meiling'
  • Castanea mollissima 'Nanking'
Castanea mollissima 'Abundance', Castanea mollissima 'Crane', Castanea mollissima 'Kuling', Castanea mollissima 'Meiling', Castanea mollissima 'Nanking'
Tags:
#deciduous#wildlife plant#edible nuts#children's garden#playground plant#fantz#vhfn#vhfn-n
 
Castanea mollissima
Leaf Photo by F. D. Richards CC-BY-SA 2.0
Castanea mollissima
Flower Photo by Kristine Paulus CC BY 2.0
Castanea mollissima
Nut Photo by Gwendolyn Stansbury CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Castanea mollissima
Tree Photo by F. D. Richards CC-BY-SA 2.0
Castanea mollissima
Flower and Leaves Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Castanea mollissima
Flower Form Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
nut, Warren County, NC
nut, Warren County, NC Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Castanea mollissima
Buds and Leaves (Halifax County,NC)-Late Fall Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Castanea mollissima
Fall Leaf Close-up (Halifax County, NC)-Late Fall Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Castanea mollissima
Form (Halifax County, NC)-Late Fall Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Castanea mollissima
Leaves (Halifax County,NC)-Fall Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Castanea mollissima
Flower (Halifax County, NC) Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Castanea mollissima
Leaves (Halifax County,NC)-Early Summer Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Castanea mollissima
Leaves Underside (Halifax County, NC)-Early Summer Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Castanea mollissima
Leaves (Halifax County, NC)-Late Fall Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Castanea mollissima
Bark (Halifax County, NC) Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Castanea mollissima
Flower (Halifax County, NC) Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Castanea mollissima
Form (Halifax County, NC)-Winter Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Castanea mollissima
Bark and leaves (Halifax County, NC)-Winter Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Castanea mollissima
Husks and nuts (Halifax County, NC)-Late Fall Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Castanea mollissima
Leaves Close-Up (Halifax County, NC)-Fall Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Mollissa female and male flowers (Halifax County, NC)
Mollissa female and male flowers (Halifax County, NC) Cathy Dewitt CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Chinese Chestnut Catkins - Male Flowers (Halifax County, NC)
Chinese Chestnut Catkins - Male Flowers (Halifax County, NC) Cathy Dewitt CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 JC Raulston Arboretum
JC Raulston Arboretum
Chinese Chestnut flowers up close (Halifax County, NC)
Chinese Chestnut flowers up close (Halifax County, NC) Cathy Dewitt CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 JC Raulston Arboretum
JC Raulston Arboretum
Spiny Pods - Summer - Halifax Co., NC
Spiny Pods - Summer - Halifax Co., NC Cathy DeWitt CC BY 4.0
Spiny Pods - Summer - Halifax Co., NC
Spiny Pods - Summer - Halifax Co., NC Cathy DeWitt CC BY 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Castanea mollissima 'Abundance'
  • Castanea mollissima 'Crane'
  • Castanea mollissima 'Kuling'
  • Castanea mollissima 'Meiling'
  • Castanea mollissima 'Nanking'
Castanea mollissima 'Abundance', Castanea mollissima 'Crane', Castanea mollissima 'Kuling', Castanea mollissima 'Meiling', Castanea mollissima 'Nanking'
Tags:
#deciduous#wildlife plant#edible nuts#children's garden#playground plant#fantz#vhfn#vhfn-n
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Castanea
    Species:
    mollissima
    Family:
    Fagaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    The nut is edible raw, boiled, or baked.
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    China to N. Korea
    Wildlife Value:
    Wildlife Enhancement
    Play Value:
    Edible fruit
    Pieces Used in Games
    Textural
    Edibility:
    Edible nuts
    Dimensions:
    Height: 35 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Nut
    Fruit Description:
    The oval, round shaped nut ranges from 1-3 inches in length. The nut is crisp, meaty and sweet, though not as sweet as American chestnuts. It is good for fresh-eating, roasting, boiling and baking. Ripens in mid or lat September through October.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Gold/Yellow
    Gray/Silver
    White
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Description:
    The flower is creamy and showy.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Green
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Oblong
    Hairs Present:
    No
  • Bark:
    Surface/Attachment:
    Ridges
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Recreational Play Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Children's Garden
    Edible Garden