Firecracker Plant Aesculus pavia
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Firecracker Plant:
- Phonetic Spelling
- ES-kew-lus PAH-vee-ah
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Red Buckeye is a small, deciduous tree or shrub that may grow 15 to 25 feet tall. It is native to coastal and Piedmont areas in NC. It is quite ornamental in spring when tubular, red flowers appear in 6 to 8 inch upright clusters that last for about a month and attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Flowers are followed by 1 to 3 shiny brown seeds contained in a three-parted smooth husk which can be numerous. The attractive palmate leaves usually fall by the end of September.
Red Buckeye prefers partial shade in moist well-drained soil. It will tolerate full sun, is pH adaptable and will grow in a variety of soil types. Use this tree in woodland or naturalized areas, as a specimen, along ponds and streams or in a wildlife garden.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Leaf blotch can be a problem for this plant. Leaf, stem and fruit drop can be messy.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Atrosanguinea'
Deeper red flowers - 'Humilis'
Low or prostrate shrub with small panicles of red flowers - 'Splendens'
- var. flavens
Naturally occurring with yellow flowers - 'Variegata'
- 'Atrosanguinea'
- 'Atrosanguinea', 'Humilis', 'Splendens', var. flavens, 'Variegata', var. pavia
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Atrosanguinea'
Deeper red flowers - 'Humilis'
Low or prostrate shrub with small panicles of red flowers - 'Splendens'
- var. flavens
Naturally occurring with yellow flowers - 'Variegata'
- 'Atrosanguinea'
- 'Atrosanguinea', 'Humilis', 'Splendens', var. flavens, 'Variegata', var. pavia
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Aesculus
- Species:
- pavia
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- USA , NC
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , FL , GA , IL , KY , LA , MO , MS , NC , OK , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
- Fire Risk Rating:
- high flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and pollinators feed on nectar from flowers in the early spring. The seeds are eaten by squirrels.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 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
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- 1-3 inch wide smooth, leathery capsule with 1-3 large, shiny, brown seeds each with a pale scar.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Showy, erect, 6-10” long panicles of red to orange-red tubular flowers in early spring. Individual flowers are 1-1.5 inches long. Petals 4-5, glandular at margins; calyx tubular-campanulate; stamens exserted. Blooms from March-April.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Palmately compound leaves have 5, sometimes 7, leaflets that are 4-8 inches long and 2-4 inches wide. Leaflets are oblong-obovate to elliptic, acuminate, cuneate, serrate, dark green above, glabrous or slightly tomentose beneath,
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Patchy
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Its bark is splotchy, gray-brown and initially smooth but with size will develop scaly patches.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stout, olive-brown, with raised brown lenticels.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Hedge
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Messy
- 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. Highly toxic, may be fatal if eaten. Symptoms may include muscle weakness and paralysis, dilated pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, paralysis, and stupor.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Glycoside aesculin, saponin aescin, possibly alkaloids
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Seeds
- Stems
