Chinese Chestnut - 8ft tall

A Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima) is a species of chestnut tree native to China and Korea. It's known for producing edible nuts that are sweet and flavorful, and for being resistant to chestnut blight, a fungal disease that devastated American chestnut populations in the early 20th century.

Key Facts:

• Scientific name: Castanea mollissima

• Common uses:

  • The nuts are roasted, boiled, or used in cooking and baking.

  • Sometimes planted as an ornamental tree due to its broad, spreading form.

• Appearance:

  • Medium-sized deciduous tree (30–60 ft tall).

  • Broad, serrated leaves with a somewhat fuzzy underside.

  • Spiny burrs contain 1–3 shiny brown nuts.

• Harvest time: Typically in late summer to early fall.

• Resilience: More disease-resistant than American chestnut (Castanea dentata), especially against chestnut blight.

Bonus:

People often cross Chinese chestnuts with American chestnuts to try to bring back the American species with some disease resistance.