Castanopsis sclerophylla

Castanopsis sclerophylla

Castanopsis sclerophylla is a deciduous evergreen tree. It is native to subtropical and tropical regions of southern China, where it grows wild in evergreen forests.

It typically reaches up to 20 meters in height.

It forms a broad, rounded, and dense crown. Young shoots are reddish-brown and slightly angular.

The leaves are leathery, glossy, and thick. They are oblong, ovate, or elliptical in shape. The upper surface of the leaves becomes silvery-gray with age, while the margins are delicately serrated or smooth.

The bark is very attractive, gray-brown, and becomes fissured and peeling in strips with age, giving the tree a unique texture.

The plant is monoecious. Male inflorescences are catkins up to 13 cm long. They emit a distinctive fragrance. It blooms from April to May.

The fruits are small, edible nuts enclosed in spherical, woody, and partially spiny cups. The fruits ripen in autumn.

Castanopsis sclerophylla grows best in moderately moist, well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil. It tolerates clay and heavy soils.

It prefers a sunny or partially shaded location.