Castanopsis sclerophylla

Castanopsis sclerophylla is a tree from China that stays green all year. Its common name is Chinese tanbark-oak. It belongs to Fagaceae, the beech family. It is native to several provinces in east and central China. These include Anhui, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang. It also grows in parts of Guizhou and Sichuan. It grows in woods and forests of broad-leaved evergreen trees. Known sites lie between 656 and 4,921 feet [200–1,500 metres] above sea level.

The tree keeps its leaves all year. The sources give no height or crown width at full size. Nor do they give a clear account of bark or leaf shape. Plants For A Future lists it for a woodland garden canopy. Each tree bears both male and female flowers. Each flower is either male or female. Wind and midges carry pollen between them. The sources do not say when the tree blooms. Nor do they describe its fruit in detail.

Plants For A Future says this species grows in part shade. It prefers moist ground and accepts loam or clay. It can grow in mildly acid or neutral soil. The source doubts how well it can stand Britain's cold. Some of its growing notes apply to the wider genus. Those notes do not set firm care rules for this species. The sources give no hardiness rating or rate of growth. They give no pest or disease account for this species.

The seeds are edible raw and taste sweet. Their small size may limit their use as food. People also crush them into a curd-like paste called tou-fu. Plants For A Future records past uses of leaves and seeds as medicine. These include using leaves for ulcers and bleeding after childbirth. It also records the use of seeds for diarrhoea. These records do not show that such treatments work or are safe. The source lists no known hazards. But it does not assess safety for pets.

Plants For A Future describes how to grow the tree from seed. It says to sow fresh seed in a cold frame. The seed needs cold stratification, a spell of cold. It soon loses its ability to sprout. Keep stored seed cool and moist; do not let it dry. The source reports that seeds sprout within one to three months at 15°C. It lists no weed potential for this species.