

How to identify Yellow Buckeye (Aesculus flava)
Yellow Buckeye, also known as Common Buckeye
Yellow Buckeye emerges as a majestic deciduous tree boasting palmate leaves divided into five oblong leaflets. The leaves unfurl a rich green, with autumn transformations to vibrant hues of yellow. Spring adorns yellow Buckeye with dense panicles of tiny, yet eye-catching flowers, typically creamy yellow. These botanical pendants can reach lengths of up to 6 inches (15 cm). Mature trees showcase a rugged bark and can achieve a sturdy height of 50 to 75 feet (15 to 23 meters), with a similar spread, underpinning their grandeur.
Palmate leaves divided into 5 oblong leaflets, turning vibrant yellow in autumn.
Creamy yellow flowers in erect panicles up to 6 inches (15 cm) long.
Smooth, leathery capsule fruit containing 1-3 dark brown nuts with a pale scar.
Stout stem with orangish lenticels, and large orangish-brown terminal buds.
Trunk evolves from smooth light gray to rugged, scaly textured bark with overlapping plates.
The leaves of yellow Buckeye are palmately compound and measure 9 to 15 inches (23 to 38 cm) in length. Each leaf comprises 5 to 7 oval pointed leaflets, each 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) long and 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.5 cm) wide. The leaflets have a wedge-shaped base, a long pointed tip, and sharply serrate margins. They exhibit a dark green color on top with lighter undersides and turn yellow to orange in fall.
The flowers of yellow Buckeye are yellow to red with 4 petals each. The stamens are shorter than the petals, while the styles are longer, curving upward. They form erect panicles that reach up to 7 inches (18 cm) in length and 3 inches (8 cm) in width. These flowers bloom from April to June, offering a striking visual when in full bloom. The flowers are a key identifier for yellow Buckeye, making them easily recognizable in their native regions.
The stem of yellow Buckeye is stout and brown, characterized by its distinctive orangish lenticels. It has prominent terminal buds that are orangish-brown, large, and sharp-pointed, measuring about 1/2 to 3/4 inch (1.3 to 1.9 cm). The lateral buds are much smaller. Notably, the buds are non-sticky and covered with smooth, overlapping scales, making them easily distinguishable. This specific combination of color, texture, and bud structure aids in accurate identification.
The fruit of yellow Buckeye is encapsulated in a leathery round to oval capsule that is smooth and resides on a stout terminal stalk. Typically holding 1 to 3 shiny, dark brown nuts within, these buckeyes measure approximately 1 1/2 to 2 inches wide (3.8 to 5 cm) and showcase a distinctive pale scar. They ripen and reach maturity in the late summer to early fall period, approximately from August to September, particularly within the North Carolina region.
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Scientific Classification of Yellow Buckeye