Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

Ashe's chinquapin, trailing chinquapin

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Castanea pumila

Family:

Fagaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

15-30 (40) ft tall by 15-20 (30) ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

NA

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

deciduous. Inconspicuous blooms in spring. Fruits ripen in fall. Life span <50 yrs.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Aroma/Showy Fruitsagrance, Fall Color, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Natural settings as a small shade tree or large shrub.

Considerations:

Burr-covered nuts can cause a problem in residential landscapes.

Availability:

Native Nurseries

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Not wet but not extremely dry ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

Ecology

Wildlife:

Mammals

Larval host for orange-tipped oakworm moth ( Anisota senatoria ) which can cause significant defoliation.

Nuts are consumed by birds and other wildlife. 

Native Habitats:

Dry, open sandy woods, hammock edges, sandy roadsides, fence rows in sandy fields, dry bluffs, pine-oak-hickory woods, floodplains, calcareous river hammocks.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Native Americans ate the nuts.

General Comments:

While it is related to chestnuts, its not generally subject to chestnut blight, and if it gets it, will likely recover.