Golden Chinkapin
Chrysolepis chrysophylla
Golden chinkapin's leaves carry a distinctive golden-bronze sheen on their undersides, and its edible nuts ripen inside a spiny, chestnut-like burr — a relative of the chestnut family that stays evergreen year-round rather than dropping its leaves.
Where found
Coastal and mid-elevation mixed-evergreen forests of southwest Oregon and northern California.
Fun facts
- Leaf undersides have a distinctive golden-bronze, scaly coating that gives the tree its name.
- Nuts ripen inside a spiny bur reminiscent of true chestnuts, a close relative.
- Can grow as a small tree in the open or a large shrub in dense shade, depending on light.
Specs
| Height | 10–30 m (shrubby in shade) |
|---|---|
| Spread | 6–12 m |
| Lifespan | 150–250 yrs |
| Growth Rate | Slow to moderate |
| Sun | Part shade to full sun |
| Native Range | Southwest Washington to central California, mostly in the Coast Range and Klamath-Siskiyou |
