Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. chrysophylla

Giant chinquapin

Family: Fagaceae · Type: tree · Native

Giant chinquapin is a California native tree found in northwestern California, northern California Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada foothills, central coastal California, and San Francisco Bay regions in conifer forest at elevations below 2,000 meters. Flowering from June to September, this tree produces creamy white to yellow flowers in small clusters. Growing 15 to 30 meters tall with occasional specimens reaching 45 meters, it develops a broad, spreading canopy with thick, sturdy branches. Its leaves are approximately flat, leathery, and dark green, typically 5 to 10 centimeters long with a distinctive glossy surface. The tree produces large, spiny fruit capsules that protect its edible nuts, which are an important food source for wildlife in its native forest habitats.

Habitat: Conifer forest

Bloom period: Jun-Sep

Elevation: < 2000 m

Bioregions: NW, n CaR, n SNH (El Dorado Co.), CCo, SnFrB

California counties: Del Norte, Marin, Siskiyou, Sonoma, San Mateo, Mendocino, Humboldt, El Dorado, Trinity, Santa Cruz

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.