Common horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ES-kew-lus hip-oh-kas-TAY-num
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
maple family (Sapindaceae)
Diseases/ other issues: Subject to leaf blotch, leaf scorch, powdery mildew; leaves often die in early fall
Found in: Landscape as cultivated flowering tree and street tree
Poison Part: Seeds and tea made from leaves and sprouts
Site: Sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil; dislikes dry soil
Texture: Medium to coarse
Form: Upright; oval to rounded crown
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Baumennii'
- 'Wisselink'
- 'Baumennii'
- 'Baumennii', 'Wisselink'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Baumennii'
- 'Wisselink'
- 'Baumennii'
- 'Baumennii', 'Wisselink'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Aesculus
- Species:
- hippocastanum
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe
- Dimensions:
- Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 75 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is 1 to 2 in., prickly, leathery capsule with large, shiny, brown seeds (each with a pale scar).
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Description:
- There are 5 to 12' panicle of creamy white flowers, which are large, with a yellow throat and red speckled center (in a large terminal cluster).
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves include 7 lobes, are non-showy, and have yellow fall color. They are also opposite, palmately divided with 5 leaflets.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Hummingbirds
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Poisonous if ingested. HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! Symptoms may include muscle weakness and paralysis, dilated pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, paralysis, and stupor. (Poison Part: Seeds and tea made from leaves and sprouts)
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Glycoside aesculin, saponin aescin, possibly alkaloids
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Seeds
- Stems
