Try for Free
tab list
PictureThis
English
arrow
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
PictureThis
Search
Search Plants
Try for Free
Global
English
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
This page looks better in the app
picturethis icon
Instantly identify plants with a snap
Snap a photo for instant plant ID, gaining quick insights on disease prevention, treatment, toxicity, care, uses, and symbolism, etc.
Download the App for Free
Continue Reading
Yellow Buckeye

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.

Lifespan

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type

Plant Type: Tree

Leaf Type

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Yellow Buckeye

1

Palmate leaves divided into 5 oblong leaflets, turning vibrant yellow in autumn.

2

Creamy yellow flowers in erect panicles up to 6 inches (15 cm) long.

3

Smooth, leathery capsule fruit containing 1-3 dark brown nuts with a pale scar.

4

Stout stem with orangish lenticels, and large orangish-brown terminal buds.

5

Trunk evolves from smooth light gray to rugged, scaly textured bark with overlapping plates.

Yellow BuckeyeYellow BuckeyeYellow BuckeyeYellow BuckeyeYellow Buckeye

Detailed Traits of Yellow Buckeye

Leaf Features

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.

Leaf Base

Cuneate

Leaf Apex

Acuminate

Learn About the Leaf Glossary
Group
Flower Features

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.

Inflorescence Type

Panicle

Learn About the Flower Glossary
Group
Stem Features

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.

Learn About the Stem Glossary
Group
Fruit Features

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.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary
Group
Icon code

Scan QR code to download

More Plants You May Like and How to Identify Them
Img topic
Cape jasmine

Gardenia jasminoides is an evergreen shrub with unique, glossy evergreen leaves and stunning flowers. The sophisticated, matte white flowers are often used in bouquets. The exceptional beauty of this ornamental plant has made it a popular and highly appreciated plant amongst gardeners and horticulturalists.

Img topic
Golden pothos

The golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is a popular houseplant that is commonly seen in Australia, Asia, and the West Indies. It goes by many nicknames, including "devil's ivy", because it is so hard to kill and can even grow in low light conditions. Golden pothos has poisonous sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children.

Img topic
Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum is an annual or perennial herbaceous vine native to Central and South America that produces a large, juicy, edible fruit known as tomato. Today there are over 10000 cultivated varieties. Although tomato is the world’s most popular vegetable, botanically it is a fruit.

Img topic
Pepper

The pepper are commonly used for cooking in places such as the Southern U.S. and Central America. Most are moderately spicy, though because there are so many variants, the spice level can vary dramatically. Cayenne powder is also a popular seasoning product made from pepper plants.

Img topic
Swiss cheese plant

The swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) produces bright, glossy leaves and makes a popular houseplant. It is originally native to tropical forest regions in Central America. The nickname swiss cheese plant refers to the small holes that develop in the plant's leaves. The long fruits resemble corncobs and smell sweet and fragrant when ripe.

Img topic
Bigleaf hydrangea

The bigleaf hydrangea is a deciduous shrub native to Japan, and is known for its lush, oval, colorful inflorescence. The two types of Hydrangea macrophylla are mopheads - with large, ball-shaped, sterile flower clusters, and lace capes - with small round fertile flowers in the center, and sterile flowers on the outer side of each inflorescence. Depending on soil pH, blooms can change color from pink to blue.

Yellow Buckeye and Their Similar Plants

Img topic
Horse Chestnut vs. Yellow Buckeye: What's The Difference?
The horse Chestnut was the tree that Anne Frank mentioned in her diary. While the original tree fell down in 2010, there have been new trees planted around the world from the original seeds. Horse Chestnut 's seeds resemble chestnuts, but they are inedible and toxic.
Read More
Arrow
Img topic
Ohio buckeye vs. Yellow Buckeye: What's The Difference?
Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra) is a commonly known species of tree. It is native to the midwestern region of the United States and is the state tree of Ohio. The buckeye seeds contain tannic acid, and are thus toxic to humans and cattle.
Read More
Arrow
Img topic
Red buckeye vs. Yellow Buckeye: What's The Difference?
Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) is a flowering plant native to the midwestern and southern United States. Red buckeye is also called the firecracker plant. This plant attracts bees, and its seeds are poisonous. The red buckeye can be used to make soap.
Read More
Arrow
Img topic
Bottlebrush buckeye vs. Yellow Buckeye: What's The Difference?
Bottlebrush buckeye is a deciduous shrub that is recognized as one of the greatest summer-flowering shrubs. It features multiple stems, dense foliage, and upright, spectacular white flowers with crimson and rosy stamens, which captivate hummingbirds and butterflies. This tree is ideal to grow as a point of focus in the garden or landscape.
Read More
Arrow
Img topic
California buckeye vs. Yellow Buckeye: What's The Difference?
California buckeye (*Aesculus californica*) is a North American shrub also called the California Horse-chestnut. This is a small tree or a large shrub in the Sapindaceae family that is native to California. It is the only buckeye that is native to the Golden State.
Read More
Arrow
Img topic
Painted buckeye vs. Yellow Buckeye: What's The Difference?
Aesculus sylvatica is a species of shrub. The species has five leaflets that are 11 to 15 cm long and 4 to 6 cm wide. The flowers are yellow and occasionally have red also.
Read More
Arrow
Identify Yellow Buckeye easily and quickly
We're also capable of identifying over 12,000 types of plants, flowers, succulents, and trees in your surroundings.
Identify a Plant Online

Key Facts About Yellow Buckeye

Attributes of Yellow Buckeye
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Tree
Plant Height
12 m to 18 m
Spread
8 m to 11 m
Fruit Color
Green
Brown
Red
Copper
Burgundy
Stem Color
Yellow
Green
Red
Brown
Leaf type
Deciduous
The Toxicity of Yellow Buckeye
Identify plants with a snap
Instantly identify plants with AI: Snap a photo, and get accurate results within seconds.
Download the App for Free

Scientific Classification of Yellow Buckeye

Family
Soapberry
Icon allow
Genus
Buckeye
Icon allow
Species
Yellow Buckeye (Aesculus flava)
Learn More About the Yellow Buckeye

Distribution Map of Yellow Buckeye

Yellow Buckeye is native to the temperate regions of Eastern North America. It has also been introduced to parts of Central and Eastern Europe, adapting to similar climates in these areas. Yellow Buckeye thrives in both its natural habitat and cultivated settings, signifying its ability to acclimatize and flourish beyond its original range.
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
close
close
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
product icon
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
product icon
Nearly 5 years of research
product icon
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
ad
ad
Botanist in your pocket
qrcode
PictureThis Ios DownloadPictureThis Android Download
Scan the QR code with your phone camera to download the app