Woody > Castanea > Castanea mollissima > Castanea mollissima
Castanea mollissima
Chinese Chestnut
Mike's
Opinion
"
Castanea mollissima has a nice rounded crown. The summer flowers emit an awful odour that may be offensive to some people. Autumn clean-up is difficult due to the sharp spikes on the protective shell of the fruit. Overall this is a nice looking tree but it is not recommended for residential areas.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Fagaceae |
| Genus |
| Castanea |
| Species |
| mollissima |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (deciduous) |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 5-8 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 6-9 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -28 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| -20 |
| Height |
| 12 m |
| Spread |
| 12 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Course textured, medium size tree with a rounded top and glossy green foilage. |
| Cultivation |
| Well drained but good garden soils are needed. Requires ample room in the landscape. |
| Shape |
| Rounded crown, low branched. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| Distingushed by pubesecence on underside of the leaves. |
| Pests |
| Diseases include powdery mildew, leaf spots, twig canker, it is resistant to chestnut blight (Cryphonecrtia parasitica) but not immune. |
| Habitat |
| Used as a street tree, or as a replacement for the American Chestnut. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Grey brown in colour ridged and furrowed. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| 6 mm long, ovoid, with 2-3 weakly overlapping scales. |
| Leaf Description |
| Simple, alternate arrangement, oblong, waxy with many prominent teeth. Wider leaf base than the American Chestnut. |
| Flower Description |
| Yellowish white flowers that occur in clusters. The flowers give off a strong odour when crushed. |
| Fruit Description |
| Chestnuts surrounded by a green spiny shell, usually 3 nuts per shell. |
| Colour Description |
| Dark green summer foliage and yellow bronze autumn foliage. Grey brown bark. |
| Texture Description |
| Course textured. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Vineland, Ontario, Canada. |
| Propagation |
| Seed should be stratified in cool moist condition for 60 – 90 days at a temperature from 0-5 °C. |
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