Bottlebrush Buckeye Aesculus parviflora
- Phonetic Spelling
- ES-kew-lus par-vih-FLOR-ah
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Golden-yellow fall color; colonies; a mound of large, compound leaves; spread of 10'; attracts hummingbirds and Eastern swallowtail butterflies; spreads by suckers; foliage is relatively disease-free; can be severely pruned to rejuvenate; native to the eastern US.
Family name Sapindaceae (formerly Hippocastanaceae)
Description:
Deciduous shrub spreading by root sprouts; leaves opposite, palmately divided with 5 leaflets; flowers white in a long, terminal cluster, each with the stamens longer than the 4 petals; fruit is a smooth, leathery capsule with 1-3 large, shiny, brown seeds each with a pale scar (the "buck's eye") Stunning in flower, can be massed or used as specimen.. Prefers moist, organic soil and shade or partial shade.
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.
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:
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- 'Rogers'
- 'Rogers'
- 'Rogers'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Rogers'
- 'Rogers'
- 'Rogers'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Aesculus
- Species:
- parviflora
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern USA (Native to eastern US)
- Wildlife Value:
- attracts 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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Open
- Spreading
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- 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
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- 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
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Creamy, white, spidery flowers in summer on 6-24" 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.
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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 Margin:
- 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".
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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.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Riparian
- Design Feature:
- Understory Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Poisonous if ingested. 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
