About
Aesculus glabra 'October Red' is a deciduous shrub-like tree characterized by its palmate leaves that initially appear pinkish, transition to green, and ultimately display a vivid red in the fall. The tree produces pale yellow flowers resembling candles, which mature into conkers enclosed in a textured husk.
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
- H7
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs, Trees
- 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 further 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