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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)
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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)
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Full sun
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Partial shade
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Additional FeaturesGood to knowWildlife plant. Nectar and pollen for insects.Pests & DiseasesScale insects, leaf miners, canker, coral spot, leaf blotchPlace of originCentral and eastern USA
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Flower ShapePaniclesConical panicles to 15cm (6in) tall
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HardinessFully hardy
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Leaf formPalmate
(see photos above) -
Leaf shapeObovate
(see photos above) Ovate(see photos above) -
Pruning groupPruning 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 CHarmful if eaten
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Tree ShapeBroadly conical
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WildlifeBee friendly
15m (49ft)
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10m (33ft) |
Buy Varieties of AESCULUS
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. AESCULUS x arnoldiana 'Autumn Splendour'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/aesculus_x_arnoldiana_autumn_splendour_7922_made_up.jpg)
AESCULUS x arnoldiana 'Autumn Splendour'
pale yellow flowers with yellow to pink throats. Deep green, glossy palmate leaves turning red in autumn
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. AESCULUS chinensis](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/aesculus_chinensis_5205.jpg)
AESCULUS chinensis
small white flowers in long racemes on this slow growing and rare species
AESCULUS 'Chocolate Autumn'
white flowers. Leaves turn chocolate-brown in autumn
![Royal Horticultural Society 'Award of Garden Merit' (AGM) AWARD](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/misc/agm_large.png)
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. AESCULUS flava](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/aesculus_flava_6805.jpg)
AESCULUS flava
yellow flowers and good autumn tints
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. AESCULUS flava f.vestita](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/aesculus_flava_vestita_7062.jpg)
AESCULUS flava f.vestita
large, upright panicles of pale-yellow flowers, good autumn tints
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. AESCULUS glabra 'April Wine'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/aesculus_april_wine_7063.jpg)
AESCULUS glabra 'April Wine'
young leaves a deep wine-red. Pale yellow flowers. A small growing from suitable for smaller gardens
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. AESCULUS glabra 'October Red'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/aesculus_glabra_october_red.jpg)
AESCULUS glabra 'October Red'
pale, cream flowers in spring. New leaves have coppery tint. Bright red in autumn
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. AESCULUS hippocastanum](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/aesculus_hippocastanum_173a.jpg)
AESCULUS hippocastanum
white flowers, spiky 'horse chestnuts' (conkers)
![Royal Horticultural Society 'Award of Garden Merit' (AGM) AWARD](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/misc/agm_large.png)
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. AESCULUS indica 'Sydney Pearce'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/aesculus_indica_sydney_pearce_4436s.jpg)
AESCULUS indica 'Sydney Pearce'
large panicles of white flowers which are marked with yellow and suffused with pink to make an attractive display
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. AESCULUS x neglecta 'Autumn Fire'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/aesculus_x_neglecta_autumn_fire.jpg)
AESCULUS x neglecta 'Autumn Fire'
coppery young foliage and orange-red autumn colour
![Royal Horticultural Society 'Award of Garden Merit' (AGM) AWARD](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/misc/agm_large.png)
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. AESCULUS x neglecta 'Erythroblastos'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/aesculus_erythroblastos_181h.jpg)
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
![Royal Horticultural Society 'Award of Garden Merit' (AGM) AWARD](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/misc/agm_large.png)
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. AESCULUS parviflora](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/aesculus parviflora_176a.jpg)
AESCULUS parviflora
rare spreading shrub growing up to 2.5 metres high & forming thickets from suckering. Good autumn colour
![© Burncoose Nurseries, all pictures for illustrative purposes only. AESCULUS pavia 'Atrosanguinea'](https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/img/products/squaremedium/aesculus_atrosanguinea_6542a.jpg)
AESCULUS pavia 'Atrosanguinea'
new leaves tinted bronze. Upright panicles of pink-red flowers
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