Plant Details

Castanea crenata

Japanese Chestnut

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Castanea crenata.

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Common names

20 names · 16 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (15)
Dutch
  • Japanse tamme kastanje
French
  • Châtaigne du Japon
  • Châtaignier crénelé[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • kaštanovník vroubkovaný[2]
Finnish
  • japaninkastanja[2]
German
  • Japanische Kastanie[2]
Hungarian
  • japán gesztenye[2]
Italian
  • castagno giapponese[2]
Japanese
Korean
Portuguese
  • Castanheiro-do-japão[2]
  • Castanheiro-japonês[2]
Russian
  • Каштан городчатый[2]
Slovak
  • gaštan vrúbkovaný[2]
Turkish
  • Japon Kestanesi[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Castanea crenata Siebold & Zucc. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Japanese chestnut — VernacularName.tsv, line 154478; taxon RNSP.
[2] Castanea crenata — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Japanese Chestnut — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 122786; Castanea crenata.
  • クリ — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 122786; Castanea crenata.
  • kuri — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 122786; Castanea crenata.
  • Castanheiro-do-japão — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 122786; Castanea crenata.
  • 밤나무 — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 122786; Castanea crenata.
  • kaštanovník vroubkovaný — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 122786; Castanea crenata.
  • Castanheiro-japonês — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 122786; Castanea crenata.
  • Japanische Kastanie — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 122786; Castanea crenata.
  • 日本栗 — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 122786; Castanea crenata.
  • castagno giapponese — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 122786; Castanea crenata.
  • Châtaignier crénelé — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 122786; Castanea crenata.
  • Каштан городчатый — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 122786; Castanea crenata.
  • japán gesztenye — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 122786; Castanea crenata.
  • Japon Kestanesi — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 122786; Castanea crenata.
  • 茅栗 — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 122786; Castanea crenata.
  • 日本栗 — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 122786; Castanea crenata.
  • japaninkastanja — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 122786; Castanea crenata.
  • gaštan vrúbkovaný — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 122786; Castanea crenata.

General information

Scientific name: Castanea crenata
Accepted name (Kew): Castanea crenata Siebold & Zucc. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Fagaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Castanea (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Japanese Chestnut
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Nut tree
Catalogue size class: Medium
Height: 9.00 m
Spread: 6.00 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4-8
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral
Light:
Full sun, Partial shade

Uses

Edible parts:
Seed
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Wood

Description

The seeds of this plant can be eaten both raw and cooked and can be a good substitute for potatoes due to their starch content. However, the taste is not very good, and the seeds are coarse and have little nutritional value. They can vary greatly in size and quality, but cooking them in salt water can reduce the bitterness.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/10
Harvest ends: 15/11

Crown

Crown shape: Broad pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 975697; name ID 34916; Castanea Daubenton. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 975706; name ID 34949; Castanea crenata Siebold & Zucc..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Castanea crenata

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 5135332, ID RNSP: Castanea crenata Siebold & Zucc. (accepted).

    Source checked on .