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Characteristics
 Family-
Fagaceae--The Beech Family
- Origin
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Native NC
- Plant Description
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Deciduous tree or bushy shrub to 25 feet; leaves alternate, simple, elongate elliptical, with sharp teeth along the margins; flowers in May to June, male flowers with pungent odor, yellow, in elongated clusters, female flowers tiny; fruit ripening in September, edible, a nut in a splitting, spiny husk.
- Ornamental Characteristics
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Very attractive in flower, but flower odor attracts insects and is strong and unpleasant.
- Landscape Use
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Conserve if found on property, use as small, ornamental tree, cultivate in shrub border for edible landscape plant. Good food source for wildlife.
- Horticultural Cultivars
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None.
- Availability/Propagation
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Not commonly available in nurseries, dig from the wild (with permission), propagate from seed (nuts) planted in fall immediately after the husks open.
- Culture
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Full sun to partial shade, moist to dry soils.
- Coastal Ecology
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Chinquapin grows on dry sandy soils in thin woods or on stable back dunes. It is not found on frontal dunes and is not tolerant of direct salt spray.
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