Plant Details

Castanea mollissima

Chinese Chestnut

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

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Common names

20 names · 15 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (14)
Dutch
  • Chinese tamme kastanje
French
  • Châtaigne de Chine
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • kaštanovník měkoučký[2]
Finnish
  • kiinankastanja[2]
German
  • Chinesische Kastanie[2]
  • Weichkastanie[2]
Hungarian
  • kínai gesztenye[2]
Japanese
  • シイグリ[2]
  • シナグリ[2]
  • チュウゴクグリ[2]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • 天津甘栗[2]
Korean
  • 약밤나무[2]
Polish
  • Kasztan chiński[2]
Russian
  • Каштан мягчайший[2]
Slovak
  • gaštan najmäkší[2]
Turkish
  • Çin 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 mollissima Blume ↗

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

Source records
  • Chinese chestnut — VernacularName.tsv, line 154480; taxon RNTN.
[2] Castanea mollissima — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Chinese chestnut — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 49192; Castanea mollissima.
  • 板栗 — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 49192; Castanea mollissima.
  • kaštanovník měkoučký — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 49192; Castanea mollissima.
  • Chinesische Kastanie — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 49192; Castanea mollissima.
  • シナグリ — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 49192; Castanea mollissima.
  • 板栗 — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 49192; Castanea mollissima.
  • Каштан мягчайший — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 49192; Castanea mollissima.
  • 天津甘栗 — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 49192; Castanea mollissima.
  • 栗 — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 49192; Castanea mollissima.
  • シイグリ — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 49192; Castanea mollissima.
  • チュウゴクグリ — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 49192; Castanea mollissima.
  • kínai gesztenye — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 49192; Castanea mollissima.
  • Çin Kestanesi — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 49192; Castanea mollissima.
  • kiinankastanja — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 49192; Castanea mollissima.
  • Kasztan chiński — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 49192; Castanea mollissima.
  • gaštan najmäkší — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 49192; Castanea mollissima.
  • Weichkastanie — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 49192; Castanea mollissima.
  • 약밤나무 — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 49192; Castanea mollissima.

General information

Scientific name: Castanea mollissima
Accepted name (Kew): Castanea mollissima Blume 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: Chinese Chestnut
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Nut tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 12.19–18.29 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 12.19–18.29 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Rounded

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Seed
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Wood

Description

Seeds can be eaten both raw and cooked. When eaten raw, there is often a noticeable contraction, especially if the fleshy inner skin is not removed. By cooking them, and especially by roasting them, the seeds become much sweeter and acquire a floral texture. At this point, they are an excellent source of nutrition and can serve as a main ingredient in a meal, similar to potatoes or grains. The outer shell of the seeds is easy to remove. Seeds contain little fat and oil but are rich in carbohydrates.

Harvest

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

Crown

Crown shape: Rounded and symmetrical
Sources [3]
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 975776; name ID 35016; Castanea mollissima Blume.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

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

    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 5135357, ID RNTN: Castanea mollissima Blume (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Castanea mollissima — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: Crown shapeHeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Crown shape: Description: crown architecture
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .