The Wild Garden: Hansen's Northwest Native Plant Database

Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. chrysophylla (Giant Chinkapin, Golden Chinkapin)

Kingdom	:	Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom	:	Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision	:	Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division	:	Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class	:	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass	:	Hamamelididae
Order	:	Fagales
Family	:	Fagaceae – Beech family
Genus	:	Chrysolepis Hjelmquist – chinquapin
Species	:	Chrysolepis chrysophylla (Douglas ex Hook.) Hjelmqvist – giant chinquapin
Variety	:	Chrysolepis chrysophylla (Douglas ex Hook.) Hjelmqvist var. chrysophylla – giant chinquapin

Over time, Chinkapin can become quite large but is slow growing, so expect it to remain smaller making it a great under-story tree. They are found at the edge of the forest where light is filtered.

It is a broadleaf evergreen tree with long thin dark glossy leaves that are golden underneath.

After two years, Chinkapin will produce creamy catkin like flowers followed by a nut in a spiny outer casing.

The smooth young bark is eventually replaced with rough reddish plated bark.

Found at low to middle elevations between the coast and Cascade Mountains from southern Washington down through northern California USDA zones 8-9.

Photos above center and above right are by Thermodoccypress

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