Chinese Chestnut Tree

Chinese Chestnut Tree

The Chinese chestnut tree is not only resistant to blight but produces healthy, sweet, delicious nuts. Since the chestnut blight wiped out 3-4 billion of the grand majestic American chestnut trees native in North America, the American Chestnut Foundation has been trying to create varieties of the American chestnut that is resistant to the disease. However, before such a variety can be released, many people have been planting the Chinese chestnut as an alternative. In fact, this tree is native to China and Korea and people introduced it in 1853 and 1903. Moreover, its structure is more wide and spreading, versus upright. Consequently, it has a dense canopy that can provide shade and relief in hot dry climates. 

Growing Characteristics

• Uses: You can use the nuts for eating, for example in salads, stuffing, meat, and sauted with garlic and vegetables.
• Benefits: These nuts are not only high in nutrients but they also contain antioxidants, help with heart health, have a lot of fiber, may aid weight loss, and may lower inflammation.
• Taste: These nuts have a nutty, crispy, and sweet taste. 
• Size: The Chinese chestnut grows to about 40-60’ and can spread to 40-60’ when it’s mature.
• Color: Moreover, the trees create a beautiful green dense canopy and red tinged twigs in the winter.
• Hardiness Zones: 4 – 8
• Disease resistance: Resistant to chestnut blight. Wood is durable and resistant to rot.
• Harvest period: The nuts are ready from mid September to late October. 
• Pollination: Chinese chestnuts need other trees in order to produce fruit. Consequently be sure to plant in pairs or groups so they can cross pollinate.
• Cultivation: These trees can grow in acidic, loamy, moist, sandy, well-drained, and clay soils. Additionally they are also  drought-tolerant. Ideally, Chinese chestnuts should get full sun. When there are good growing conditions it will grow about 12-24” per year and will bear fruit from if planted from seed in 4-5 years. Lastly, it does well in dry hot climates. 

Check out our guides page for information on how to take care of trees.