A native of China and Korea, blight resistant and frequently planted in southern Michigan; squirrel dispersed seedlings may be found in yards, gardens, and disturbed ground near adult trees, but the first record of a plant established in the wild is a collection from Allegan Co. made by W. S. Martinus in 2010.

This is a somewhat less hardy tree than Castanea dentata, with more abruptly acuminate usually shorter leaves that are often truncate to cordate at base. The twigs are hairy when young, usually with short pubescence and more scattered longer, spreading hairs. Castanea dentata has longer leaves gradually tapered to the apex, at least the leaves of vigorous shoots are usually ± cuneate at the base, and even young twigs are glabrous.