Chinquapins in Castanea differ from chestnuts, to which they are closely related, in having hairy leaves and twigs and single-seeded burs. The bush, or downy, chinquapin (C. alnifolia) of the southeastern United States and the Allegheny chinquapin (C. pumila) of the eastern and southwestern United States are shrubs or small trees. The Florida chinquapin, perhaps a variety of C. alnifolia, is a tall tree up to 14 m (46 feet) high; the Ozark chinquapin (C. ozarkensis), of the south-central United States, may grow to 19 m; and the Henry chinquapin (C. henryi), an ornamental and timber tree native to China, sometimes attains a height of 28 m.

The evergreen chinquapins include the golden, or giant, evergreen chinquapin (Castanopsis chrysophylla), also known as wild chestnut, or Castanopsis nut, native to western North America. It may be 45 m tall and has lance-shaped leaves about 15 cm (6 inches) long, coated beneath with golden-yellow scales. The bush, or Sierra evergreen, chinquapin (Castanopsis sempervirens) is a small, spreading mountain shrub of western North America. Both species have been referred to the genus Chrysolepis by some botanists.

Castanea pumila is the only economically important North American chinquapin; its nuts are consumed locally, and its durable wood is used for telephone poles, fence posts, and railroad ties.

The water chinquapin is an aquatic plant of the lotus family (see lotus). The chinquapin oak refers to Quercus prinoides and to Q. muehlenbergii (see white oak).