tree

Chinese chestnut

Castanea mollissima

Updated 8 Jul 2026 · AI-parsed entry

Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima) — a tree, for Full sun, Medium water.

What it needs & gives back

↓ Needs

Sunlightfull sun to partial shade
Watermedium

↑ Gives back

Biomasshigh
Nutsedible
Shademoderate to dense

Through the year

Emergence

Bud break and leaf emergence typically occur after the last spring frost and when air temperatures consistently rise above 100C.

Flowering

Flowering occurs approximately 30 days after leaf emergence, typically in late spring to early summer.

Fruiting

Fruit development begins after flowering, with chestnuts maturing over approximately 90 days.

Harvest

Chestnuts are typically ready for harvest from late September through October, often triggered by the first autumn frosts which cause burrs to open.

Senescence

Leaf senescence and fall are triggered by the first autumn frosts and shortening day lengths.

Dormancy

The tree enters dormancy after leaf fall, lasting through winter until chill requirements are met and spring temperatures rise.

Timing is relative to your local season (temperate Northern Hemisphere).

Soil interactions

Drainagewell-drained
Nitrogen fixingNo
MycorrhizalYes
Accumulatespotassium, calcium
Soil textureloam, sandy_loam
Organic matterHigh
Compaction toleranceLow

Propagation

Methodsseed, grafting
Difficulty2 / 5
Establishes in~3 yr
Stratificationcold_moist
Self-seedingModerate
Divisionnone

Wildlife & pests

Attractsbees, wildlife
Can host pestschestnut weevil, oriental chestnut gall wasp
Can host diseaseschestnut blight