Painted Buckeye Aesculus sylvatica
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ES-kew-lus sil-VAT-ih-kah
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Painted Buckeye is a small, deciduous tree in the maple family (Sapindaceae) that is native to the southeastern USA. In NC it is found in the Piedmont in mesic, nutrient-rich forests, on bottomlands, lower slopes, and in ravines. Also in the Coastal Plain primarily on floodplains and in the Mountains only at low elevations. It will grow 10-20 feet high in a shrub or tree form. It leafs out early in March-April with attractive palmate leaves that may start out reddish. It usually drops its leaves by September. Flowers are showy in upright clusters of usually greenish-yellow but sometimes pink or red.
It does best in sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil and is intolerant of dry soils. Give this tree a moist but well-drained site and some afternoon shade in a woodland or naturalized area.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Potential disease problems include powdery mildew, rust, and anthracnose. Potential insect problems including bagworms, Japanese beetles and borers. Leaf scorch (edges brown up) may occur in droughty conditions or on sites exposed to strong wind.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Aesculus
- Species:
- sylvatica
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern North America
- Distribution:
- AL, GA, NC, SC, TN, VA
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Hummingbirds feed on the nectar from the flowers in the spring. Squirrels eat the seeds. Attract butterflies. Moderately resistant to deer.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Shade
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Multi-stemmed
- Open
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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 Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 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:
- Fruit is 1-1.5 inches, three-parted, smooth husk, containing usually 1 chestnut brown seed but up to 3. Mature in late summer.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers occur in panicles 5-8 inches long and have both bisexual and male flowers in each cluster with male flowers located near the base. Bloom time starts March-April. Bell-shaped flowers are yellow, yellow-green, cream, pink or even red. Individual flowers are 1-1.5 inches long.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Palmately compound leaves have 5 leaflets that are oblong-obovate, 4-6 inches long, 1.5-2 inches wide and tapering at apex and base. They may open reddish and change to yellow-green with yellow to orange midveins and green undersides. Margins are serrated and sometimes doubly serrated. They are pubescent when young and smooth when mature. The tree leafs out early and drops its leaves early.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Its bark is a light gray-brown and smooth, mottled looking.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Description:
- Stout, light brown or gray, with raised lenticels, large opposite shield-shaped leaf scars, large pointed orange-brown buds.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Fire
- 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 muscular weakness and paralysis, dilated pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, paralysis, and stupor.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Glycoside aesculin, saponin aesin, possibly alkaloids
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
