About
Aesculus hippocastanum is a sizable deciduous tree characterized by its wide crown. Its leaves are substantial, typically consisting of 5 to 7 leaflets, which shift to a reddish-brown hue as autumn approaches. The flowers are creamy-white, featuring a yellow marking that deepens to red as they mature. The tree produces large, spiny fruit.
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, Well-drained
- Aspect
- North-facing, West-facing, South-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
- Plant type
- Trees
- Habit
- Spreading branched
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- Higher than 12 metres
- Spread
- wider than 8 metres
- Time to full height
- 20-50 years
- Suggested uses
- Architectural, Wildlife gardens
- Native to
- Balkans
- 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
- Only suitable for large gardens
- Pruning
- Pruning group 1
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed or grafting
- 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