About

Aesculus glabra 'April Wine' is a deciduous shrub or small tree featuring palmate leaves that start off bronze, transition to a rich green, and turn dark red in the fall. Its white flowers appear in upright clusters, resembling candles, and give way to conkers encased in a bumpy shell.

About the genus

Aesculus consists of deciduous trees or sizable shrubs featuring prominent flowers and leaves that are lobed in a palmate arrangement. In some cases, they also exhibit appealing colors in the fall.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil type
Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained
Aspect
East-facing, North-facing, South-facing, West-facing
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness
H6

Plant details

Plant type
Trees, Shrubs
Habit
Spreading branched
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
4-8 metres
Spread
4-8 metres
Time to full height
10-20 years
Suggested uses
Architectural
Toxicity
Humans/Pets (dogs): harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants

Care notes

Cultivation
Grows best in deep, fertile, moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade; suitable for medium-sized gardens. For more information, see our advice on tree cultivation
Pruning
Pruning group 1
Propagation
Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to horse chestnut scale and leaf-mining moth
Disease resistance
May be susceptible to coral spot, canker, leaf spot and honey fungus