Alleghany Chinquapin- Dwarf Chestnut

[Bigfoot 327]

Reading through the past and present discussions on chestnuts I find a lot of good info on American Chestnuts and Dunstans (hybrids). However, I see almost no mention of chinquapins. I see that the DEC tree nursery at Saratoga is offering seedling Alleghany Chinquapins as part of their coming Spring sale. Other than the obvious disadvantage of planting a seedling vs a 2 to 4' tree, I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with these or what you thoughts on trying them might be.

[G-Man]

Found mainly as a shrub it is a fine addition usually only 15 ft or so tall. Production is limited by its size. Mostly planted as an ornamental today. My not be zone compatible depending on. Where you live . It wont grow by me it just gets to cold.

[Bigfoot 327]

I would like to try them, but I fear my location (South of the Finger Lakes) is almost as cold as yours.

[knehrke]

There's a close cousin called "Copper Chinkapin" that was developed in Big Flats. It's grown and sold by Ben Lowe at Meadowview Nursery in Naples. I've planted a bunch and had success with growing them, but the shrub tubes I'm using aren't tall enough to keep the deer off. Hence, they're eaten as soon as they emerge from the tubes. I'm going to cordon the area with stakes and 40 lb monofilament line, which is invisible to the deer and provides a great deterrent. Once they're better established, I hope to see some good production.

[Bigfoot 327]

Thanks, good to know.