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Bottlebrush Buckeye Aesculus parviflora

Phonetic Spelling
ES-kew-lus par-vih-FLOR-ah
This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Bottlebrush buckeye is a deciduous suckering shrub in the soapberry family (Sapindaceae) that is native to GA, AL, FL and SC. It can be found growing in moist rich woods and ravines. Although it is native to the southeast it is hardy to zone 5 and easily grown in NC. 

This shrub prefers shade to part shade conditions in rich fertile well-drained moist soil. It is intolerant of drought, especially at a young age. The shrub will grow 8-12 feet tall and 8-15 feet wide and spread to form colonies. 

The flowers occur in upright panicles in early summer and consist of many small tubular white flowers with extruded red stamens. Blooming can be quite spectacular. The compound leaves stay attractive all year unlike many buckeyes and the fall color is an attractive yellow. Flowers are followed by the nut called a buckeye and are not edible. Shrubs grown further north don't produce many fruits. 

Use this shrub as a hedge for shady areas, along ponds and streams, in a woodland garden or as a specimen. It's flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Quick ID Hints:

  • Opposite, palmately compound leaves, slightly pubescent
  • Erect inflorescence, white flowers
  • Stamens extend out 1 inch from petals
  • Buds appear white when small
  • 8-12' tall, 8-15' wide, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub or small tree.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  It is more tolerant of disease and insects than most buckeyes. 

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:
  • 'Rogers'
'Rogers'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#deciduous#poisonous#drought tolerant#white flowers#shrub#deciduous shrub#yellow leaves#swallowtail butterflies#fall interest#spreading#summer flowers#woody shrub#flowering shrub#gold leaves#pollinator plant#fantz#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#landscape plant sleuths course#wildlife friendly#collier preserve tn#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Rogers'
'Rogers'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#deciduous#poisonous#drought tolerant#white flowers#shrub#deciduous shrub#yellow leaves#swallowtail butterflies#fall interest#spreading#summer flowers#woody shrub#flowering shrub#gold leaves#pollinator plant#fantz#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#landscape plant sleuths course#wildlife friendly#collier preserve tn#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Aesculus
    Species:
    parviflora
    Family:
    Sapindaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Al, GA, SC, FL
    Distribution:
    AL, DC, GA, NJ, PA, FL, SC
    Wildlife Value:
    attracts pollinators, hummingbirds and eastern swallowtail butterflies
    Play Value:
    Wildlife Food Source
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    tolerates some drought, foliage is relatively disease-free, and can be severely pruned to rejuvenate
    Dimensions:
    Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Mounding
    Multi-stemmed
    Open
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Nut
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    This plant has 1 to 3 in. pear-shaped smooth, leathery capsules containing a polished, brown seed that opens in late September/October. Seeds have the pale "buck eye" scar
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Creamy, white, spidery flowers in summer on 6-12 inch erect panicles with red anthers. These flowers are white, long, terminal clusters, each with stamens longer than the 4 petals. Individual flowers are 1/2 inch across.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblong
    Obovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Crenate
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Opposite palmately compound leaves with 5 to 7 leaflets; medium to dark green; golden yellow to yellow-green fall color. Leaflets are each 3-8" long and 1-4" wide, medium to dark green above, gray-green and pubescent below, serrulate-crenate margin, petiole 3-5".
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gray/Silver
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Buds:
    Scaly
    Stem Description:
    Raised lenticels on gray/brown stem. Buds appear white when small, usually 4 scales showing.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Riparian
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Pollinator Garden
    Shade Garden
    Water Garden
    Design Feature:
    Hedge
    Small groups
    Specimen
    Understory Tree
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Pollinators
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Medium
    Poison Symptoms:
    Poisonous if ingested especially the nuts. Symptoms may include muscle weakness and paralysis, dilated pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, paralysis, and stupor.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Glycose aesculin, saponin aescin, possibly alkaloids.
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Bark
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Seeds
    Stems