Aesculus pavia var. pavia
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ES-kew-lus PAH-vee-uh PAH-vee-uh
- Description
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Scarlet Buckeye is a native deciduous shrub or small tree found in SE and central USA and is found in the coastal and Piedmont areas of NC. It typically grows as an understory tree in the moist, rich, slightly acidic soils of pine forests. In the wild, it may reach 25 feet tall but usually grows 12-15 feet in cultivation. The spring flowers are showy as is the fruit that follows. The tree will drop its leaves by the end of summer.
Scarlett Buckeye prefers morning sun and afternoon shade in moist well-drained acidic soils. It can be used as a specimen or for screening and in woodland or rain gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Aesculus
- Species:
- pavia
- Family:
- Hippocastanaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native Americans used the branches and crushed seeds to slow down fish to make them easier to catch. Early settlers made a soap substitute from buckeye’s roots and a black dye from its wood.
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SE and central U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , FL , GA , IL , KY , LA , MO , MS , NC , OK , SC , TN , TX
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Squirrels will eat the nuts.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Irregular
- Rounded
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- 2-inch round brown capsules with a rough surface have 1-3 shiny seeds within. Fruits are available July-August.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Long tubular red flowers on 6-10 inch long upright panicles in April-May. Individual flowers are 1- 1.5 inches long.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Palmately compound leaf with 5 leaflets up to 3-6 inches long on long stems and serrated margins. Elliptic in shape with long pointed tips and rounded bases. Leaves drop by the end of summer.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Smooth gray to brown stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Hedge
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Compaction
- Heat
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
