About
Aesculus hippocastanum 'Umbraculifera' is a compact, shrub-like variety of horse chestnut characterized by its low trunk and dense, rounded canopy of palmate foliage. It produces upright clusters of white flowers that resemble candles, which later develop into spiky husks containing conkers as they mature.
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
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
- Plant type
- Trees, Shrubs
- Habit
- Spreading branched
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 2.5-4 metres
- Spread
- 2.5-4 metres
- Time to full height
- 20-50 years
- Suggested uses
- Architectural, Wildlife gardens
- 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