Aesculus
Buckeye
- Height × spread
- 2m – 25m × 1.5m – 15m
- Position
- Full sun
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
There are fifteen species of horse chestnut and they come from quite a wide area including North America, eastern parts of Asia and south and eastern parts of Europe. The best known form, the horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) is not a British native, but a 16th century immigrant from Greece. The tree is loved for its often spectacular candle-like flowers in red, white and pink, and its handsome foliage. Some species are smaller than the grand horse chestnut, such as the often shrubby red buckeye, Aesculus pavia, and the suckering Aesculus parviflora which is often grown as a small colony in large gardens. In recent years many forms of the Buckeye have been victims of disfiguring and even fatal ailments. The leaf mining moth often turns the leaves completely brown by late summer. There are also cases of bleeding canker which infects the bark of trees and can be terminal.
- Flower colour
- Orange, Pink, Red, White, Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green, Pink, Red, Yellow
- Fruit colour
- Brown, Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes, some varieties
- Shape
- Bell, Cone, Dome, Round
- Height
- 2m – 25m
- Spread
- 1.5m – 15m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Seaside garden, Scented garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, likes part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- All types
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Damp and wet soil, Well drained soil, Drought resistant
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, most are hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Screening, Structural, Architectural, Deer resistant, Bee attraction, Bird attraction
- Hazards
- Yes, some poisonous and some fruit is prickly/thorny
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed young plants with slow release fertiliser
Spread a slow release fertiliser around the base of the plant to the edge of the foliage spread, so that it can feed the roots. It is helpful for this to be applied for several years.
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost until the plant becomes well established.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water until well established
Until well established, plants in the ground should be watered deeply at regular intervals after a dry period. This is likely to be 1 and 2 weeks without rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Winter
Winter - mid-late · Planting
Prune during dormancy
While dormant, prune the plant to keep it attractive and healthy by removing dead branches, removing branches that cross or rub each other and those which spoil its appearance.
The plant is encouraged to develop a pleasing shape by removing deviant or dead growth. It is much more likely to remain healthy if branches that rub, or can rub each other are removed, since the rubbed spots can be places where disease is introduced.
Planting & general
Planting
Protect & support young trees
Attach a newly planted tree or tall shrub over 1m to a tree stake to give support and prevent windrock. Use a tree guard to stop tree bark being eaten by animals, especially in areas with deer - removing bark injures a tree and in worst case can kill it.
Found in
More Aesculus
Aesculus californica
California buckeye
Aesculus flava
Yellow buckeye, sweet buckeye
Aesculus glabra
Ohio buckeye, Stinking buckeye, Fetid buckeye
Aesculus hippocastanum
Horse Chestnut, Conker tree, European horse chestnut
Aesculus hippocastanum 'Baumannii'
Horse Chestnut, Conker tree, European horse chestnut
Aesculus hippocastanum 'Hampton Court Gold'
Horse Chestnut, Conker tree, European horse chestnut
Aesculus indica
Indian horse chestnut, Naru, Pangar
Aesculus indica 'Sydney Pearce'
Indian horse chestnut, Naru, Pangar