How to Grow and Care for Chinquapins

Long-leaf evergreen chinkapin is a huge canopy tree with broad leaves native to Asia. As a commercial timber crop, it is frequently harvested in the wild and on plantations. This plant's catkins have a pungent, hawthorn-like odor that attracts midges for pollination.

This broad-leaved evergreen grows in tropical and subtropical regions natively, but can be cold-hardened enough to survive temperate winters. bitter evergreen chinkapin has soft, easy-to-work wood that is used for carving and furniture in its native range. It is also used for making shingles. Its catkins have an unpleasant smell, sometimes compared to hawthorn, that attracts the midges that are its primary pollinators.

Described as a dominant tree species in mid-subtropical, evergreen broad-leafed forests, eyer's chinkapin is normally found at elevations not exceeding 2000 m. Eyer's chinkapin can reach heights of 20 m and is noted for its leathery leaves.

Chinese castanopsis is a sturdy evergreen tree recognized for its broad, leathery leaves that bear toothed margins. Often flourishing in subtropical forests, its bark is rough and fissured, offering a haven for numerous woodland creatures. This tree’s acorn-like nuts are encased in spiny cups, signaling its membership in the beech family and aiding in species propagation via wildlife dispersal.

Castanopsis tibetana is a large evergreen shrub valued for its lumber, which is easy to work with but not especially durable. The plant can tolerate moderate winters but not freezing temperatures, and it does not fare well in maritime locations. Flowers are either male or female; both can be found on the same plant.