Castanea mollissima
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- kas-TAY-nee-uh maw-LISS-ih-muh
- Description
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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:
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- Castanea mollissima 'Abundance'
- Castanea mollissima 'Crane'
- Castanea mollissima 'Kuling'
- Castanea mollissima 'Meiling'
- Castanea mollissima 'Nanking'
- Castanea mollissima 'Abundance'
- Castanea mollissima 'Abundance', Castanea mollissima 'Crane', Castanea mollissima 'Kuling', Castanea mollissima 'Meiling', Castanea mollissima 'Nanking'
- Tags:





































- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Castanea mollissima 'Abundance'
- Castanea mollissima 'Crane'
- Castanea mollissima 'Kuling'
- Castanea mollissima 'Meiling'
- Castanea mollissima 'Nanking'
- Castanea mollissima 'Abundance'
- Castanea mollissima 'Abundance', Castanea mollissima 'Crane', Castanea mollissima 'Kuling', Castanea mollissima 'Meiling', Castanea mollissima 'Nanking'
- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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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
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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.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Gray/Silver
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- The flower is creamy and showy.
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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
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Bark:
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden