Common Name: Chinknut

General Information

Castanea × neglecta is a deciduous shrub up to 4 metres tall.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials. It is sometimes cultivated for its edible seeds.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Eastern and southern N. America - Pennsylvania, Virginiana, Tennessee, North Carolina, Arkansas, Louisiana.

Habitat

A natural hybrid, C. dentata x C. pumila, found on well-drained soils[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	4.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Castanea × neglecta is a very cold-hardy tree, tolerating temperatures down to around -25°c when dormant. It grows best in areas with hot summers. In areas with cooler summers(even if the winters are mild), such as the maritime regions of the temperate zone, it often grows poorly, failing to produce a crop of fruit[, ].
Prefers a good well-drained slightly acid loam but succeeds in dry soils[, , ]. Once established, it is very drought tolerant[, , ]. Very tolerant of highly acid, infertile dry sands[]. Averse to calcareous soils but succeeds on harder limestones[, ]. This species is an excellent soil-enriching understorey in pine forests[], growing and fruiting well so long as the canopy of pines is fairly light.
This species is a natural hybrid, Castanea dentata x Castanea pumila[, ]. It is very similar to Castanea pumila[], but has larger fruits[] and often produces two fertile seeds in each fruit[]..
Flowers are produced on wood of the current year's growth[]. Plants are fairly self-sterile[].
All the different Castanea species are interfertile and will hybridize freely with other members of this genus[].
Fruits are produced in 2 - 3 years from seed[].
This species is occasionally cultivated for its edible seed in N. America, there are some named varieties[]. The plants produce seeds abundantly in the wild[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked[]. Eaten raw, there is a distinct astringency, especially if the fleshy inner skin beneath the outer shell of the seed is not removed[]. When cooked, however, and especially when baked, the seed becomes much sweeter and has a floury texture[]. It then makes an excellent food and can be used as a staple food in much the same way as potatoes or cereals[]. The seed is quite small, though it is larger than Castanea pumila[]. Another report says that only one large seed is formed in each seed case[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The bark, leaves, wood and seed husks all contain tannin.

Wood - coarse-grained, hard, strong, light, durable, easy to split.

Propagation

Seed - where possible sow the seed as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame or in a seed bed outdoors[]. The seed must be protected from mice and squirrels. The seed has a short viability and must not be allowed to become dry. It can be stored in a cool place, such as the salad compartment of a fridge, for a few months if it is kept moist, but check regularly for signs of germination. The seed should germinate in late winter or early spring. If sown in an outdoor seedbed, the plants can be left in situ for 1 - 2 years before planting them out in their permanent positions. If grown in pots, the plants can be put out into their permanent positions in the summer or autumn, making sure to give them some protection from the cold in their first winter[]. This species is a natural hybrid and might not breed true from seed[].
Division of suckers in winter[]. They can be planted straight out into their permanent positions.