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Horse Chestnut

How to identify Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)

Horse Chestnut , also known as Buckeye , Conker tree

Horse Chestnut boasts a majestic form, with its broad, palmate leaves spread out like fingers from a central point, typically comprising 5-7 leaflets. These lustrous leaves can grow quite large, spanning up to 10 inches (25 cm) across, presenting a vibrant green canvas that may turn a crisp brown due to disease. In the spring, horse Chestnut becomes even more striking, displaying pyramidal clusters of creamy white flowers with a subtle reddish tinge, which rise impressively up to 12 inches (30 cm) above the foliage.

Lifespan

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type

Plant Type: Tree

Leaf Type

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Horse Chestnut

1

Large palmate leaves with 5-7 leaflets, up to 10 inches (25 cm) across.

2

Creamy white flowers in pyramidal clusters, up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall.

3

Fruit with rough, prickly texture, 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) in diameter.

4

Distinctive yellow fall color of leaves, 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) long.

5

Yellow-throated flowers with red-speckled centers, in showy panicles 5-12 feet (1.5-3.6 meters) long.

Horse Chestnut Horse Chestnut Horse Chestnut Horse Chestnut Horse Chestnut

Detailed Traits of Horse Chestnut

Leaf Features

The leaves of horse Chestnut are palmately compounded with 5 to 7 lobes. These large leaves are arranged oppositely and have a distinctive yellow hue in the fall. The leaflets are each approximately 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 cm) long, showcasing a broad, obovate shape. Their texture is somewhat leathery, and the prominent veins radiate from a central point, providing a unique pattern. These non-showy leaves can help in identifying horse Chestnut , particularly during the autumn season.

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Flower Features

The flowers of horse Chestnut are arranged in large, showy panicles measuring 5 to 12 feet (1.5 to 3.6 meters) long. Each creamy white flower has a distinctive yellow throat and a red-speckled center, creating a striking appearance. The petals are large and prominent, effectively drawing attention to the blooms. These flowers tend to form dense terminal clusters at the ends of branches. They typically bloom in late spring, filling the air with a pleasant, subtle fragrance.

Horse Chestnut  Flower image
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Fruit Features

The fruit of horse Chestnut is characterized by its rough, prickly texture, encased in a tough, leathery capsule that measures 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) in diameter. This capsule protects the large seeds that are notable for their glossy, chestnut-brown hue and distinctive pale scar, which is often referred to as a 'hilum'. Each seed is quite sizable, making it easily visible when the capsule splits open upon maturity.

Horse Chestnut  Fruit image
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Horse Chestnut and Their Similar Plants

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Ohio buckeye vs. Horse Chestnut : 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.
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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.
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Yellow Buckeye vs. Horse Chestnut : What's The Difference?
Yellow Buckeye (Aesculus flava) is a tree species native to the eastern United States. It grows in forests and floodplains in acidic soils. Due to its yellow flowers, yellow Buckeye is commonly cultivated as an ornamental tree.
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Bottlebrush buckeye vs. Horse Chestnut : 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.
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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.
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Key Facts About Horse Chestnut

Attributes of Horse Chestnut
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Tree
Plant Height
25 m to 30 m
Spread
15 m
Leaf Color
Green
Yellow
Red
Brown
Flower Size
1.1 cm
Flower Color
White
Yellow
Pink
Red
Fruit Color
Brown
Green
Stem Color
Green
Red
White
Yellow
Brown
Leaf type
Deciduous
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Scientific Classification of Horse Chestnut

Family
Soapberry
Icon allow
Genus
Buckeye
Icon allow
Species
Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)
Learn More About the Horse Chestnut

Distribution Map of Horse Chestnut

Horse Chestnut is a common woodland tree native to the Eastern Mediterranean and Turkmenistan. It has also been introduced to Western Europe and parts of Eastern Europe, several Eastern US states, and New Zealand's South Island. It is classified as an invasive species in Oregon.
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
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