different types of chestnuts
The chestnut group is a genus (Castanea) of eight or nine species of deciduous trees and shrubs in the beech family Fagaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Asiatic species Castanea crenata (Japanese chestnut), Castanea mollissima (Chinese chestnut), Castanea davidii (China), Castanea henryi (Chinese chinkapin, also called Henry's chestnut â China) and Castanea seguinii (also called Seguin's chestnut â China).
Sweet Chestnut (Castanea species). Forest Chestnuts. The American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was one of the largest growing forest trees in eastern North America. It was important for timber as well as nuts for human use as well as wildlife.A deadly fungus disease, introduced from the Orient effectively wiped out this chestnut in the first half of the 20th century.he American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was one of the largest growing forest trees in eastern North America. It was important for timber as well as nuts for human use as well as wildlife. A deadly fungus disease, introduced from the Orient effectively wiped out this chestnut in the first half of the 20th century.
Chinquapin Chestnut. The chinquapin (Castanea pumila), also spelled chinkapin, is a dwarf chestnut that has yellow flowers and grows to a height of 14 feet by the time it is 20 years old. It grows well in coarse-and medium-textured soils in zones 5 to 9. The nuts are small.It needs at least 40 days of rain and 150 frost-free days per year.apanese Chestnut. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Japanese chestnut (Castanea crenata) grows well only in Florida in the United States; it is native to Japan and grows prolifically there. This tree grows to a height of nearly 30 feet, and its leaves are about 7 inches long.