Chinese chestnut
Castanea mollissima

Family: Fagaceae

What it is like

A big tree. It grows 20-25 m tall. The trunk is 1 m across. The branches have short hairs but can also have long spreading hairs. The leaf stalk is 1-2 cm long. The leaf blade is oval and 10-17 cm long. It can be slightly hairy along the veins. The base of the leaf is rounded. There are coarse teeth around the edge. The male flower is 10-20 cm long. The cup is densely covered with spine like bracts. There can be 2-3 nuts in each cup. They are 2-3 cm across. The nuts are edible.

All Castanea bear edible nuts. There are about 12 Castanea species. This is a cultivated plant. It is resistant to chestnut blight.

Where it is found

It is native to China. It requires a dry subtropical location. It occurs in North Vietnam from 500 to 2000 m altitude. It can grow on waste land, stony soil and acidic or limestone soils. In China it grows from near sea level to about 2800 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 5-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Canada, China (country/location of origin), East Africa, Indochina, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, North America, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Tanzania, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The seeds can be eaten. They are used both fresh and dried. They can be roasted or boiled. They are also used in cooking.

It is a cultivated food plant. The nuts are exported.

Edible parts

Nuts, seeds

How it is grown

Two or more compatible varieties must be planted together to ensure cross pollination. Trees can be grown from seed. Seed need to be treated for 1-2 months with cold in a refrigerator then planted 5-7 cm deep. Plants can be grown by splice grafting.

Seedlings usually bear in 5-8 years. Grafted trees can bear in 2 years.

Its other names

Local names

Ban Li, Board chestnut, Chinese hairy chestnut, De tau, De trong, De trung khanh, Yebanli, Yemaoli

Synonyms

Castanea bungeana Blume; Castanea duclouzii Dode; Castanea fargesii Dode; Castanea formosana (Hayata) Hayata; Castanea hupehensis Dode; Castanea mollissima var. pendula X.Y.Zhou & Z.D.Zhou; Castanea sativa Miller var. formosana Hayata; Castanea sativa var. mollissima (Blume) Pampanini; Castanea vulgaris Lamarck var. yunnanensis Franchet;