Allegheny Chinquapin and Georgiana Chinquapin

Chinquapin nut trees are excellent for growing in nut orchards and differ from the chinquapin oak tree, Quercus muehlenbergeii; similar to the Castanea pumila, only in the sticky burr of both Genera and species. The common names, spelled “Chinquapin” and “Chinkapin,” are freely used, causing much confusion—however, “Chinquapin” is the preferred spelling for most academically inclined taxonomists. The value of the chinquapin nut is seen in examining trees and nuts that survived the deadly chestnut blight and still produce nuts on large surviving specimen chinquapin trees. The chinquapin can be distinguished from ordinary or chinese chestnut trees by the single nut growing in the burr and the hairy surface of the chinquapin leaf. The nuts are smaller than the chestnut, but the chinquapin flavor is spicy and sweet, and the nuts are easy to shell. Historically the chinquapin tree was used as food, fence posts, cross-ties, fuel, and a coffee flavoring like hazelnuts are used today. Two types of nursery grown chinquapin trees are avilable: the Allegheny chinquapin, Castanea pumila; and the Georgiana chinquapin, Castanea pumila 'Georgiana.'

The Allegheny chinquapin, Castanea pumila, grows through a wide environmental range in the United States, especially in the Allegheny Mountain areas, and appears to be immune in some clones to chestnut blight problems. The Allegheny chinquapin nut is delicious and productive with an attractive form and leaf shape. The Georgiana chinquapin, Castanea pumila 'Georgiana,' is easy to grow in dry locations. It is dwarf in form with huge tuber-like roots that can grow into multiple trunks. The nuts of the Georgiana chinquapin are sweet and tasty. You can not buy this Georgiana chinquapin anywhere else but Aaron's Nursery. Auburn University Horticulture Department, Auburn, Alabama has done extensive research on the chinquapin species and also chestnut species, and their research farm features many large bearing trees of chestnuts and chinquapin.