Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. minor
Bush chinquapin
(c) Stephen Sikes, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Stephen Sikes · licence
Family: Fagaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. minor (Bush chinquapin) is a native California shrub in the Fagaceae family, recognized by folded leaves with upturned margins.
Bush chinquapin is a California native shrub found in northwestern and central western California in conifer forests, closed-cone pine forests, and chaparral at elevations up to 1,800 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces small cream-colored flowers with distinctive folded leaves and upturned margins. Growing as a compact shrub or small tree to 5 meters tall, it has a dense, rounded form with multiple stems. Its leaves are thick and leathery, with distinctive folded blades and edges that curl upward, creating a unique architectural silhouette. The plant forms dense thickets in its native forest and chaparral habitats, providing important shelter and habitat for local wildlife.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; key feature is folded leaves with upturned margins
Habitat and range
Habitat: Conifer forest, closed-cone-pine forest, chaparral
Elevation: < 1800 m
California counties: Mendocino, Monterey, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, Humboldt, Marin, San Luis Obispo, Napa, Trinity, Lake, Del Norte, Sonoma, Siskiyou, Mono
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. minor blooms Jun-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Quercus: Chrysolepis nuts are completely enclosed in spiny burs; oak acorns sit in open cups.; vs Notholithocarpus: Chrysolepis has spiny burs enclosing nuts; tanoak has cup-scaled acorns like oaks.; vs Frangula: Chrysolepis has spiny burrs with nuts; Frangula has smooth berry-like fruits.; vs Castanopsis: Both have spiny burs, but Castanopsis doesn't occur wild in California.; vs Heteromeles: Chrysolepis has spiny burs; toyon has clusters of red berries.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. minor native to California?
Yes. Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. minor is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. minor bloom?
Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. minor blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. minor grow?
Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. minor occurs in Mendocino, Monterey, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, Humboldt and other counties, at elevations of < 1800 m.
What plant family does Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. minor belong to?
Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. minor is in the Fagaceae family, genus Chrysolepis.
What habitat does Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. minor grow in?
Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. minor grows in Conifer forest, closed-cone-pine forest, chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.