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Resources < Wildlife Habitats < Guide to Native Plants of Georgia for Wildlife < Castanea pumila
The Allegheny Chinquapin is a close relative of the now severely endangered American Chestnut. The Chinquapin, however, unlike its taller relative, bears smaller nuts and largely survived the introduction of the devastating Chestnut Blight fungus at the turn of the century. Although Chinquapins are susceptible to the disease, they resist it more than the Chestnut. Because of this, they make an excellent replacement for chestnuts. They grow quickly and require no supplemental irrigation once established. The Chinquapin produces at a much younger age than either hickory trees or pecans; while waiting on those to bear, try some Chinquapins! Nuts are small but prolifically produced, with a sweet and tasty flavor both fresh and roasted.
The wood of the Alleghany Chinquapin, like that of oak, beech, or chestnut, is hard and durable in contact with moisture or soil. Historical purposes have included fenceposts and fuel, but the tree’s small size precluded it from being commercially harvested. The Native Americans made an infusion of the leaves to treat headaches and fevers. The bark, leaves, wood, and seed husks of the Chinquapin contain high levels of tannins that can be used to make leather.
Fagaceae (Beech)
A small, deciduous hardwood tree. Bark is light brown, tinged with red, slightly furrowed, and splitting into plate-like scales over time. Leaves are oblong, 5” long, have coarsely serrated margins, and taper to a fine point. Unfolding leaves are red-tinged and covered in white pubescence which remains on the leaf undersides. Fall color is bright yellow. Fruits are bristly, spined husks surrounding a dark brown nut.
50 feet tall and 20-30 feet wide
A small deciduous hardwood tree with a broadly spreading crown
Fast
Full sun to partial shade
Allegheny Chinquapin favors well-drained soils and will bear higher yields with stronger sun. Plant more than one tree for adequate pollination. In prime locations, it may sucker from the roots; these may be trimmed without harm to the tree, or allowed to colonize for a natural thicket of nut-producing trunks.
This tree works best as a specimen, row planting, windbreak, or grouping for ornamental purposes.
Plant Allegheny Chinquapin in colonies, thickets, or rows as a superb nut tree. It is perfect for smaller areas because of its small size, and is a fairly quick-growing and producing native nut tree. It may also be employed to attract wildlife, including game animals, and naturalizes easily in drier hardwood forests. Because of the spiny husks, plant in a location where tree litter will not damage property or bare feet.
The Allegheny Chinquapin, like its close relative the American Chestnut, is a very important tree for wildlife. Its abundant and dependable nut crop feeds deer, turkeys, bears, and rodents during the winter. It is a foliar host for the Orange-Tipped Oakworm Moth. Allowing the tree to form a thicket not only provides protection for wildlife to nest, burrow, and forage, but also allows greater nut production to feed a more diverse and populous selection of animals.
Native to the Appalachian Mountains from New England south to Florida and west to Texas. It favors dry, sandy ridges, rocky slopes, and upland woods.
Stratified nuts; make sure to bury them to prevent theft by squirrels!
Also known as (Allegheny) Chinkapin,
Dwarf Chestnut
Written by Kevin Tarner, Georgia Wildlife Federation
Photo courtesy Albert Vick, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
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