Aesculus pavia
Red Buckeye
Hippocastanaceae
ExpandHabitat
- native to southeastern United States, from Virginia to Florida and Louisiana
- zone 4
Habit and Form
- large shrub or small tree
- deciduous
- clump-forming, round-topped, broader than it is tall
- 8' to 12' tall in landscape, over 30' tall in wild
Summer Foliage
- opposite, palmately-compound leaves, with 5 leaflets, each 2" to 5" in length
- lush, dark green color
Autumn Foliage
- loses leaves early (late September)
- no appreciable fall color
Flowers
- blooms in May to early June
- panicles 3" to 6" long, of 1" to 1.5" long, red flowers
- petals remain closed
Fruit
- capsule, flat and rounded
- husk light brown and smooth, 1 or 2 shiny brown seeds within
- ripe in October
Bark
- branches smooth
Culture
- best habit in full sun; opens up in shade
- flowers well in dense shade
- best in moist, well-drained soil
- not as mildew-prone as A. hippocastanum
Landscape Use
- uncommon; adds variety to the landscape
- specimen or accent for its flowers and habit
- in a border or for massing
Liabilities
- may be difficult to find in the trade
- leaf blotch
ID Features
- smallest of the tree-forming Aesculus
- typical palmately compound leaves of Aesculus
- fruit flattened, smooth
- large, non-resinous terminal buds
Propagation
- by seed
Cultivars/Varieties
Few selections are widely available, but may enter commerce as appreciation grows for this fine native.
var. flavescens - Naturally-occuring yellow-flowered plants that offer a new look for this species.
'Atrosanguinea' - described as having deeper red flowers.
'Humilis' - a shrub-like form lacking the upright nature of the species, low and with smaller flowers.