Buy more to save more! Shop now and get up to an extra 30% off your entire order!

Your plants can be on their way to you in less than two days with Grower Direct Express!

Happy & healthy plants shipped right to your doorstep.

Free Shipping On All Orders $139+

Chinese Chestnut Tree

Castanea mollissima
$7999
  • In Stock
  • Stay Protected with Plant Sentry ™
Plant Size

Plant Sentry™

Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.

This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.

Click Here to learn more

 

Plant Sentry

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping

To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.

 

Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.

*If you have found your zone already, it will be highlighted in the table below.

Standard Shipping Rates

At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.

From To S&H
$0 $19.99 $24.99
$20 $49.99 $29.99
$50 $69.99 $34.99
$70 $99.99 $39.99
$100 $129.99 $44.99
$130 $149.99 $48.99
$150 $150+ Approx 28%

Click here to see our full rates

Plant Highlights

Chinese Chestnut Tree highlights at a glance!

Plant Highlights

  • Brand
    Nature Hills' Choice
  • Botanical Name
    Castanea mollissima
  • Growing Zones
    4-8
  • Mature Height
    40 - 60 feet
  • Mature Spread
    40 - 60 feet
  • Sun Exposure
    Full Sun
  • Moisture
    Moderate, Low
  • Soil
    Well-Drained, Slightly Acidic
  • Growth Rate
    Medium
  • Flower Color
    Deciduous
  • Fall Color
    Yellow
  • Pollinator Friendly
    Yes
  • Pollinator Required
    Yes
  • Pruning Time
    When Dormant
  • Bloom Period
    Summer
  • Harvest Time
    Late Season

Productive & Beautiful Chinese Chestnut Tree

This beautiful tree offers something unique in every season. Easy care, hardy, and productive, Chinese Chestnut Tree (Castanea mollissima) is a beautiful choice for your home garden, farm, or orchard. It's also a great choice to include in a permanent wildlife food plot because of the large crop of incredible nuts.

They produce a bumper crop of delicious edible nuts that are valuable as a cash crop. Sell them to local restaurants, or to harvest for yourself. Imagine your family and friends gathered to roast your own harvested chestnuts on an open fire, or in the oven! What a special treat.

Chinese Chestnut trees are easy to care for lawn trees. They develop into a magnificent, large specimen with a massive trunk and a wide-spreading, densely rounded crown.

In spring, long, creamy white flowers add a ton of interest. The highly textured, glossy green leaves are very attractive. They cast deep, dense shade in the summer.

In the fall, neighbors will slow down to check out the shining yellow and gold leaves. This is a deciduous tree, so it loses the leaves in the winter but makes up for it with a striking bare silhouette.

The Chinese Chestnut Tree is a wonderful large shade tree that is often planted alone for the beauty and shade it provides. The primary difference between the beloved American Chestnut and the Chinese Chestnut is the Chinese have a more spreading canopy.

Order one or more today! It does require another Chinese Chestnut cultivar to pollinate for nut production, so consider ordering at least 3 to get the largest crops.

How to Use Chinese Chestnuts

The Chinese Chestnut develops 2 to 3 nuts per bur and the flavor is similar to the American and Spanish sweet chestnuts. When the burs are ripe in early fall, they tumble to the ground and split open, revealing the wonderful fruit inside. Harvest them for your use right away or allow local deer to happily eat them for you.

Because they bloom late - well past the danger of frost - they'll reliably produce year after year. Best production is found in areas with a long growing season and mild winter. Plant several Chinese Chestnut trees to ensure pollination for a bountiful harvest.

On average, 15-year-old trees will provide 150 pounds of nuts. They'll ripen in fall and provide a windfall for your family. Give them time to get established in your yard, or in permanent wildlife feed lots.

Chinese Chestnuts are sweet, and grow between a quarter size, up to a 50-cent piece or even larger. These are BIG nuts, that pack a lot of nutrition inside. They have a silky texture and give a buttery, toasty flavor to many dishes.

With plenty of Vitamins C and B, folic acid, and minerals like magnesium and potassium, these nuts are nutritious powerhouses. Cut an X into the bottom of the bur, then roast or boil them. You can easily peel them while they are warm.

Perfect in savory meat or meatless recipes, you can also mill them into flour for polenta or Italian castagnaccio pancakes and cakes. Sweet and full-flavored, the pale, golden-yellow nut makes a great selection for roasting or boiling for holiday treats or to include in salads, stuffing, or soups. Even the processed Chinese Chestnut flowers make fabulous pancakes!

  • Big Glossy Green Leaves
  • High Yield of Delicious Edible Nuts
  • Brilliant Fall Color
  • Wildlife Tree & Large Crop Of Nuts
  • Great Shade Tree

#ProPlantTips for Care

Chinese Chestnut trees are easy to care for lawn trees. They love well-drained, moist, loamy soils, but also do well in drier soils in more arid climates. Chinese Chestnut is a recommended replacement for the American Chestnut.

The tree performs poorly in alkaline soils with high pH levels. Collect rainwater in rain barrels to water if your municipal water is too alkaline with a high pH.

Because they are sun lovers, they won't like being in the shade of other trees. Choose a site in full sun that offers them a little room of their own.

Once established, they will tolerate periods of drought. Providing them plenty of water through the growing season, though, promotes good tree growth and adds to regular nut production.

For groves, plant them 40 feet on center (measuring from trunk to trunk.) Apply organic all-purpose fertilizer in spring.

Give protection against deer and fence it while young. From day one, apply Deer Repellent spray according to the directions. Harvest the nuts regularly in the fall and don't leave behind any nuts to draw deer into your yard in the first place.

  • Full Sun
  • Moderate Moisture Needs
  • Well-Drained Soil Locations
  • Easy To Grow
  • Blight Resistant

You'll be thrilled with this beautiful and productive tree, order the edible Chinese Chestnut today at NatureHills.com!

Customer Reviews

Based on 10 reviews
80%
(8)
20%
(2)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
M
Mountain
benefits of eating Yanshan Chestnut

Chestnut is worthy of the name of the king of the fruits . It s full of dietary fiber .Its functions are strengthening the spleen and stomach , conducing the color , reinforcing kidneys and making your heart strong .It has a variety of minerals , such as potassium (kalium) , magnesium , iron ,zinc and manganese etc. And the potassium content is 4 times than apples .It contains seven amino acids , besides the tryptophan . There are Vitamin A, Vitamin B3 about 1.2mg per 100g roasted chestnut ,Vb6 about 0.459mg per 100g ,Vc and Ve in quite large amount .The colour of fresh chestnut is light golden , while the roasted chestnut is brown for the enzyme contained turns brown after being roasted.

Hello Mountain,

Thank you so much for sharing such a detailed and insightful review of the Yanshan Chestnut and its remarkable benefits! We truly appreciate the thoughtful attention you’ve given to the nutritional and health properties of the Chinese Chestnut Tree’s fruit. Your mention of its rich mineral content and vitamins is especially valuable for those looking to incorporate nutritious and wholesome foods into their diet.

Chestnuts indeed offer terrific dietary fiber and a variety of essential nutrients, which as you pointed out, makes them a unique and beneficial addition to any diet. For those interested in growing the Chinese Chestnut Tree, we recommend ensuring it has well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight, as these conditions will help the tree thrive and produce those nutritious chestnuts you beautifully described. Additionally, periodic mulching can help retain moisture and enrich soil fertility, further supporting robust growth.

Please don’t hesitate to explore our resources or reach out if you’d like tips on harvesting, roasting distinctive flavors, or optimizing your chestnut tree’s care through different seasons.

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

G
Gladys
Classic

I remember picking chinese chestnuts up as a kid & shining them up. That was in PA, I didn't know they thrived down here in Georgia as well. Got s new house & I'm planting two of these in my back yard. Can't wait for the fall color.

Dear Gladys,

Thank you so much for sharing your lovely memory and recent experience! It’s wonderful to hear how the Chinese Chestnut Tree is bringing a touch of your Pennsylvania childhood to your new home in Georgia. These trees do indeed adapt well to a range of climates, and with the milder winters in Georgia, your chestnuts should thrive beautiful fall color.

As you look forward to seeing them develop, make sure to give your trees plenty of sunlight and well-draining soil to help them flourish. Regular watering during dry spells, especially in the first couple of years, will support healthy growth. If you ever want more tips on cultivating chestnut trees or advice tailored to Georgia’s climate, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

We’re delighted to be part of your gardening journey!

Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts

G
Gladys
Classic

I remember picking chinese chestnuts up as a kid & shining them up. That was in PA, I didn't know they thrived down here in Georgia as well. Got s new house & I'm planting two of these in my back yard. Can't wait for the fall color.

Dear Gladys,

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful memories and for choosing the Chinese Chestnut Trees for your new home in Georgia! It’s so special to hear how those shiny chestnuts from your childhood in PA are now becoming a part of your next chapter. You’ll love how these trees not only thrive in Georgia but also bring beautiful fall colors to brighten your backyard each autumn.

As you get your trees planted, make sure they have well-draining soil and plenty of space to spread their roots—Chinese Chestnuts appreciate good airflow too. If you want tips on care and soil or want to encourage great nut production, feel free to reach out anytime. We’re here to help ensure your yard blossoms just as beautifully as the memories these trees hold.

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

J
Julia
Great fall color

I bought two bareroot chinese chestnut trees this spring . They leafed out pretty fast, maybe 3 to 4 weeks after planting. I just remember their fall color being awesome. I can't wait!

Dear Julia,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with your Chinese chestnut trees! We’re delighted to hear they leafed out quickly after planting—that early growth is always such an encouraging sign. And you’re absolutely right, their fall color can be truly stunning, adding beautiful autumn hues to your landscape.

As the season progresses, just remember to keep the soil consistently moist but well-drained to support strong root development. Mulching around the base can help retain moisture and protect the roots over winter. If you have any questions about feeding or winter care, feel free to reach out—we’re always here to help your trees thrive!

Enjoy the wonderful colors this fall will bring!

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

J
Julia
Great fall color

I bought two bareroot chinese chestnut trees this spring . They leafed out pretty fast, maybe 3 to 4 weeks after planting. I just remember their fall color being awesome. I can't wait!

Dear Julia,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with your bareroot Chinese chestnut trees! We’re thrilled to hear they leafed out so quickly and that you’re already enjoying their fall color—Chinese chestnuts truly do bring such a stunning splash of autumn beauty to the landscape.

As the trees continue to mature, they’ll reward you with even richer foliage and, of course, those lovely edible nuts to look forward to as well! To help them thrive, make sure they have well-drained soil and get plenty of sunlight throughout the growing season. If you ever want tips on care or pest management along the way, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always here to support your garden journey!

Enjoy watching those colors unfold this fall!

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

Chinese Chestnut

Chinese Chestnut Tree

From $7999

Growing Zones

4-8

Mature Height

40 - 60 feet

Mature Spread

40 - 60 feet

Sun

Full Sun

Foliage Color

N/A

Fall Color

Yellow

Flower Color

Deciduous
View product

Find Your Garden's Growing Zone!

Error, Unable to locate a growing zone for that ZIP code.

When ordering a tree or plant, make sure to know your planting zone.

You can determine your garden’s USDA hardiness zone by entering your Zip Code below.