Chinese Flame Goldenrain Tree

The Chinese Chestnut, Castanea mollissima, can be used as a nut tree and a shade tree, or planted in rows as a windbreak. The nuts are sweet-flavored and produce edible nuts in winter. This deciduous tree has moderate water requirements and it has a moderate tolerance to salt and alkali soils. Landscapers plant the Chinese Chestnut as an ornamental. The outer shell of the nut is prickly and must be removed. This tree tolerates heat, drought, transplanting, and dry and acidic soils.

The American Persimmon tree, Diospyrus virginiana, is a native fruit tree with attractive edible fruit. Its dark-green leaves conceal small fragrant white flowers that are replaced by pale-orange fruits, which ripen after frost. It is one of the first invaders of old fields with the seeds brought in by wild birds and animals. The leaf is rather leathery and dark green. In a good environment and with good care, fruiting will begin in year six and continues for fifty years or more.

The Chinese Flame tree, Koelreuteria bipinnata, is a deciduous tree that has a round canopy. It is a medium to rapid growing tree with medium green oval leaves. The beautiful yellow flowers, 2" long, in clusters 8-14" long, bloom June-August. The seed pods are long and orange, red or salmon-colored papery in color. Chinese Flame trees are drought tolerant and can tolerate poor drainage, poor soils, smog and temperature extremes. The beautiful flower clusters attract birds and bees.