 The Chinese chestnut prefers a fertile, well-drained soil, but it grows well in fairly dry, rocky, or poor soils.Although "Castanea" can grow in very acid soil, and while these soils are reasonably well tolerated, the preferred range is from pH 5.5-6.0.It does not grow well on alkaline soils, such as chalk, but thrives on soils such as those derived from granite, sandstone, or schist.