Plant Details

Castanea pumila

Chinkapin

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

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Common names

18 names · 12 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Allegheny chinkapin[2]
  • Allegheny Chinquapin[2]
  • American chinquapin[2]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Chinkapin[1]
  • dwarf chestnut[2]
Other languages (11)
Dutch
  • Dwerg tamme kastanje
  • Dwergkastanje
French
  • Châtaignier nain
Alabama
  • Hachiⁿfakto[2]
Cherokee
  • ᎤᏅᎩᏅ[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
Czech
  • kaštanovník nízký[2]
Gullah
Japanese
  • チンカピン[2]
  • チンカピングリ[2]
Russian
  • Каштан низкорослый[2]
Slovak
  • gaštan nízky[2]
Turkish
  • Amerika Cüce 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 pumila (L.) Mill. ↗

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

Source records
  • Chinkapin (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 154482; taxon RNTY.
[2] Castanea pumila — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Allegheny Chinquapin — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 84363; Castanea pumila.
  • Allegheny chinkapin — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 84363; Castanea pumila.
  • kaštanovník nízký — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 84363; Castanea pumila.
  • チンカピン — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 84363; Castanea pumila.
  • Hachiⁿfakto — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 84363; Castanea pumila.
  • Каштан низкорослый — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 84363; Castanea pumila.
  • チンカピングリ — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 84363; Castanea pumila.
  • American chinquapin — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 84363; Castanea pumila.
  • dwarf chestnut — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 84363; Castanea pumila.
  • Chinkypen — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 84363; Castanea pumila.
  • ᎤᏅᎩᏅ — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 84363; Castanea pumila.
  • 矮小栗 — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 84363; Castanea pumila.
  • Amerika Cüce Kestanesi — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 84363; Castanea pumila.
  • gaštan nízky — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 84363; Castanea pumila.

General information

Scientific name: Castanea pumila
Accepted name (Kew): Castanea pumila (L.) Mill. 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: Chinkapin
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Nut tree, Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 4.57–9.14 m

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

Sources [3]
Spread: 3.05–6.1 m

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

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Erect, Multi-stemmed

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

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

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:
Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
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:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Wood

Description

Seeds - raw or cooked. They have a sweet and nutty flavor, are very suitable for eating raw, and have a superior taste compared to chestnuts (K. sativa). When roasted, they become even sweeter and develop a floury texture, making them an excellent substitute for potatoes or grains. The seeds are relatively small, about 2 cm thick, roughly half the size of those from C. dentata. They are sold locally at markets in America. The seeds typically have only one shell, sometimes two. They contain 45% starch and 2.5% protein.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/10
Harvest ends: 30/11

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 975793; name ID 35028; Castanea pumila (L.) Mill..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

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

    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 5135364, ID RNTY: Castanea pumila (L.) Mill. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Castanea pumila — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 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 .