SAPINDACEAE - - Soapberry Family

* Aesculus hippocastanum Linnaeus — Horsechestnut

* This Tree is not native to the United States

Horsechestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) is native to Europe where it has been widely planted as a street and park tree. It was introduced into North America during colonial days and widely planted for its flowers and attractive leaves. It grows into a large spreading tree requiring ample space. It is fast growing and reaches heights of up to 82 feet.

Separating Characteristics

A. hippocastanum can be separated from our native species by the following characteristics: leaves usually with 7 leaflets that are widest toward the tip, obovate to spatulate shaped. White flowers, with pink or yellow blotches, are produced in large clusters on sweeping branches that give the tree the appearance of an enormous candelabra. Fruit covered with flexible prickles. Terminal bud covered with glistening, resinous scales, sticky to the touch.

Habitat

Non-native tree, introduced from Europe and widely planted as an ornamental tree. Urban and suburban areas, perhaps not definitely naturalized, but fairly often planted as a street tree and escaping as seedlings in the vicinity of plantings; native of se. Europe.

Habitat information from:
Weakley, Alan S., Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States, Working Draft of 21 May 2015.

Range

Horsechestnut may be weakly naturalized in some areas and is reported as being found from Nova Scotia south to Georgia and northward to Minnesota. Also on the west coast from British Columbia south to Oregon.

The range of Aesculus hippocastanum (Horsechestnut)

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 21 November 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

The Georgia range of Aesculus hippocastanum (Horsechestnut)

Zomlefer, W.B., J.R. Carter, & D.E. Giannasi. 2014 (and ongoing). The Atlas of Georgia Plants. University of Georgia Herbarium (Athens, Georgia) and Valdosta State University Herbarium (Valdosta, Georgia). Available at: http://www.georgiaherbaria.org/.