Aesculus hippocastanum

A tall, stately tree with a wide crown. Large, deep-green, fan-shaped leaves with giant white flower candles in mid-spring. Glossy-brown nuts in autumn are toxic to humans and animals. Foliage can scorch in dry or very windy conditions. Once established, it is difficult to transplant due to its taproot. Great in large gardens, parks, and paddocks. Yellow autumn leaves. Prefers moist, well-drained soils, and will not tolerate dry soils well.

Exotic

Deciduous

Toxic to animals

Tolerates windy sites

Tolerates light frosts

Clay soils

Sandy soils

Full sun

Part shade

Paddocks

Shade

Attracts bees

Family: Sapindaceae, soapberry family, a family of flowering trees, lianas, and herbaceous plants that occur in many temperate and tropical regions.

Genus: Aesculus, aesculus (Latin, noun), meaning 'a kind of oak bearing edible acorns'. Commonly known as buckeye and horse chestnut, a genus of various flowering trees and shrubs.

Species: Aesculus hippocastanum, hippocastanum, meaning 'horse chestnut', derived from the Greek noun ἵππος (híppos, 'horse') and Latin adjective castanea (chestnut tree, chestnut).

Common Name: Horse Chestnut

Description: A tall, stately tree with a wide crown. Large, deep-green, fan-shaped leaves with giant white flower candles in mid-spring. Glossy-brown nuts in autumn are toxic to humans and animals. Foliage can scorch in dry or very windy conditions. Once established, it is difficult to transplant due to its taproot. Great in large gardens, parks, and paddocks. Yellow autumn leaves. Prefers moist, well-drained soils, and will not tolerate dry soils well.

Height: 5m

Width: 4m

Uses: Paddocks, Shade, Attracts bees

Tolerates: Windy, Light frosts

Soil Type: Clay soils, Sandy soils

Sun and Shade: Full sun, Part shade

Winter Foliage: Deciduous

Origin: Exotic

Types: Toxic to animals

Foliage:

• Summer: Green

• Autumn: Yellow

• Winter: None

• Spring: Green

Flowers:

• Summer: None

• Autumn: None

• Winter: None

• Spring: White