Chrysolepis Golden Chinquapin, Giant chinquapin PFAF Plant Database

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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Chrysolepis is an evergreen Tree growing to 20 m (65ft 7in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in leaf all year, in flower in July. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind, midges.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Castanea chrysophylla. Castanopsis chrysophylla.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked[22, 46]. Very sweet and much appreciated[63, 71, 82, 105, 183]. The seed can also be dried, ground into a powder and used as a thickening in soups, mixed with cereals when making bread etc[257]. The seed is about 1cm long and has a hard shell[183].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

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None known

References More on Medicinal Uses

Other Uses

Wood - fine-grained, light, soft, not strong. Occasionally used for making ploughs and other agricultural implements, and also as a fuel[46, 61, 82, 229].

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a lime-free soil[1]. Prefers a sheltered semi-shaded position and a light deep moist soil[1, 11]. A very ornamental tree[183], it is slow to moderate growing and can live 400 - 500 years in the wild[229]. One report says that this species only succeeds in Oceanic and Mediterranean climates[200]. This species has a very wide natural range in N. America, seeds should be tried from various provenances to find more suitable selections for Britain[11]. Another report says that the plant is only found in a small area of California and Oregon, but that it grows on a wide range of soil types[229]. There are trees 16 metres tall in Surrey and Buckinghamshire[11], it also fruits in Cornwall[59] and fruits well in addition to self-sowing at Edinburgh botanical gardens[11]. Flowers are produced on the current years growth, the seed taking two summers to mature[229]. The catkins have an unpleasant hawthorn-like smell to attract midges for their pollination[245]. This species resists chestnut blight[200].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Celsius Fahrenheit:

Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe, the seed must be protected from mice etc[200]. The seed has a short viability and should not be allowed to dry out. If stored overwinter it should be kept cool and moist. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts, and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Oregon, Washington, California)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

IUCN Red List

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Chrysolepis chrysophylla	Golden Chinquapin, Giant chinquapin	Tree	20.0	6-9	M	LM	S	M	2	0	2
Chrysolepis sempervirens	Dwarf Golden Chinquapin, Bush chinquapin	Shrub	3.0	5-9		LM	S	M	2	0
Quercus chrysolepis	Live Oak, Canyon live oak	Tree	25.0	8-11	S	MH	SN	M	2	2	2

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

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Expert comment

Author

(Douglas. ex Hook.)Hjelmq.

Botanical References

1171200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Chrysolepis - (Douglas. ex Hook.)Hjelmq.