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AESCULUS
Commonly known as Buckeye, Ohio Buckeye
The horse chestnut, or buckeye, is a genus of about 15 species of deciduous trees and shrubs from southeastern Europe, the Himalayas, eatern Asia and North America.
Striking for their large flower spikes in candles most are too large for average gardens and are popular street and park trees.
The common "hippocastanum" was brought into the UK from Turkey in the late 16th century.
They provide nectar and pollen for insects, particularly bees, and the fruit "conker" is eaten by mammals.
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Deciduous5-palmate, glossy, light green leaves with obovate to ovate, long-pointed leaflets 15cm (6in) or more long. Leaves turn yellow to orange-red in autumn
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Height15m (49ft) -
Spread10m (33ft)
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Treecandles of flowers are followed by sparsely prickly fruit
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Very hardyHardy in the severest continental climates including exposed upland locations in the UK. Plant can withstand temperatures < -20 (-4°F) -
Full sun -
Partial shade
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Additional Features
Good to knowWildlife plant. Nectar and pollen for insects.
Pests & DiseasesScale insects, leaf miners, canker, coral spot, leaf blotch
Place of originCentral and eastern USA -
Flower ShapePaniclesConical panicles to 15cm (6in) tall
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HardinessFully hardy
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Leaf form
Palmate(see photos above) -
Leaf shape
Obovate
(see photos above)
Ovate(see photos above) -
Pruning group
Pruning group 1Suitable for: Deciduous and evergreen trees, and some deciduous shrubs.
Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Prune wayward or crossing branches to maintain a healthy framework.
When: When dormant in the late winter/early spring. Some in the summer/autumn to prevent bleeding of sap.
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Seasonal InterestSpringSummer
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Soil ConditionsFertile moist well-drained soil
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Toxic - Category C
Harmful if eaten -
Tree ShapeBroadly conical
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Wildlife
Bee friendly
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15m (49ft)
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10m (33ft) |
Buy Varieties of AESCULUS
AESCULUS x arnoldiana 'Autumn Splendour'
pale yellow flowers with yellow to pink throats. Deep green, glossy palmate leaves turning red in autumn
AESCULUS chinensis
small white flowers in long racemes on this slow growing and rare species
Gift-wrapping available
AESCULUS 'Chocolate Autumn'
white flowers. Leaves turn chocolate-brown in autumn
AESCULUS flava
yellow flowers and good autumn tints
AESCULUS flava f.vestita
large, upright panicles of pale-yellow flowers, good autumn tints
AESCULUS glabra 'April Wine'
young leaves a deep wine-red. Pale yellow flowers. A small growing from suitable for smaller gardens
AESCULUS glabra 'October Red'
pale, cream flowers in spring. New leaves have coppery tint. Bright red in autumn
AESCULUS hippocastanum
white flowers, spiky 'horse chestnuts' (conkers)
Gift-wrapping available
AESCULUS indica 'Sydney Pearce'
large panicles of white flowers which are marked with yellow and suffused with pink to make an attractive display
Gift-wrapping available
AESCULUS x neglecta 'Autumn Fire'
coppery young foliage and orange-red autumn colour
AESCULUS x neglecta 'Erythroblastos'
red leaf stalks and leaves that unfold a spectacular cream and bright pink. They then become yellow and turn green by midsummer
AESCULUS parviflora
rare spreading shrub growing up to 2.5 metres high & forming thickets from suckering. Good autumn colour
Gift-wrapping available
AESCULUS pavia 'Atrosanguinea'
new leaves tinted bronze. Upright panicles of pink-red flowers
Gift-wrapping available
Useful extras...
