Aesculus californica (California Buckeye)

Aesculus californica (California Buckeye) is a deciduous large shrub or small tree with an open somewhat flattened canopy that holds attractive palmately compound leaves with 5 to 7 leaflets. Emerging pale apple green, the leaves mature to lustrous dark green leaves. In late spring to early summer, a profusion of sweet-scented, creamy-white flowers (sometimes pink) with spidery anthers are borne in 4-12 in. erect panicles (10-30 cm). The floral display is quite spectacular and the tree resembles a giant candelabra. The flowers are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. They give way to smooth, pear-shaped capsules that contain one or two pale orange-brown seeds. The smooth, light to pale silver bark of this low-branched tree, often adorned with multiple trunks, is beautiful. California Buckeye has an early leaf drop and is deciduous for a good part of the year. In California, it begins new growth in the warm, moist spring but usually enters dormancy during the dry summer season.

Handsome in form and foliage, elegant in bloom with a beautiful wintertime silhouette of silvery trunks, California Buckeye can be used as an accent tree.

• Grows up to 15-30 ft. tall and wide (4-9 m).
• Thrives in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun or part shade. Prefers moist, fertile soils. Responds to high heat or drought stress by dropping its leaves. Occasional irrigation in the summer will keep this tree in leaf into the fall.
• Keep an eye out for canker, coral spot, leaf spot, and horse chestnut scale.
• Propagate by seed or grafting
• Ingestion may cause severe discomfort.
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.
• Native to California.