About
Aesculus sylvatica is a deciduous shrub or small tree that can reach heights of up to 9 meters. Its palmate leaves are made up of five leaflets, displaying a deep burgundy hue in spring before transitioning to a lighter green during the summer months. The plant produces prominent upright clusters of flowers that range in color from yellow to creamy, occasionally featuring pink or red, typically blooming in spring or early summer. These are succeeded by round, light brown fruits.
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
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
- Plant type
- Trees
- Habit
- Spreading branched
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 8-12 metres
- Spread
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 20-50 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. 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 and leaf spot