Castanea mollissima: Chinese Chestnut

Chinese chestnut reaches a height and spread of about 40 feet in a sunny, open exposure and a well-drained soil. It usually branches close to the ground making it a good candidate for a specimen or as a tree to climb. The tree is hard to transplant, perhaps due to a coarse root system. The chief ornamental feature is yellowish white catkins, present in early summer, and a coarse foliage. A very striking tree. The odor given off by the flowers for a short period may be considered offensive to some people. The nuts are edible but not as sweet as the American chestnut.