Trying to grow native chestnuts called chinquapins

Q: I’m trying to grow native chestnuts called chinquapins. A nursery I contacted sells one they call Georgia Champion and one they call Allegheny. Which one do you think is better, or no difference in them at all? Which one would you try? 

A: There are several plants called chinquapin (Castanea pumila): American chinquapin, Allegheny chinquapin, and common chinquapin. There are improved varieties of chinquapin: ‘Rush’ and ‘Fuller’ are examples. I can’t find a reference to a ‘Georgia Champion.’ My bet is that someone was walking in the woods one day and saw a nice looking chinquapin tree. They collected the nuts and planted them. The seedlings grew quickly and as a result he named them Georgia Champion but did not register this name anywhere. That’s my best guess. I think I would try the Georgia Champion tree, in case it truly is a superior selection.