Chinquapin

Castanea pumila

Family: Fagaceae

Pet & Human Safety

People: Hazard to peoplePets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them

Human edibility

Edible

Edible parts

nuts

Hazardous parts

Not yet checked.

Preparation

Not yet checked.

Hazard type

Not yet checked.

Hazard route

the fruit is a spiny bur (NC State)

How complete this information is

The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets

No ASPCA entry found.

ASPCA lists 'Chestnut' (Castanea dentata, American chestnut) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. That is the same genus but a different species, so it is not carried as a verdict for chinquapin; no ASPCA page for Castanea pumila was found. NC State's page for C. pumila has no pet-poison section.

Look-alike warning

Could be mistaken for Look-alike plants. To tell them apart: NC State: often confused with Quercus acutissima (sawtooth oak)..

Look-alike warning

Could be mistaken for Plants that share its name. To tell them apart: 'Chinquapin' is shared by other trees: the NC State Plant Toolbox says Castanea pumila is often confused with Quercus acutissima (sawtooth oak), and the Gardener Handbook's figure caption 12 calls the plant 'Chinquapin oak (Castanea pumila)', which is a caption oddity (chinquapin oak is a different species). Check the species before gathering or planting anything by this common name..

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones: USDA 5a to 9b (NC State)
Mature size: Height 15 to 30 ft, width 10 to 20 ft (NC State); the NC State text says 15 to 30 ft when grown as a tree.

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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