Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia)

For definitions of botanical terms, visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_botanical_terms.

Red buckeye is a deciduous understory shrub or small tree that typically flowers in late winter through spring. It is one of the first of the red tubular flowering plants to bloom each year, and is important food source for returning hummingbirds and butterflies. It occurs naturally in moist and calcareous hammocks, slope forests, and upland hardwood forests. Red buckeye’s maroon to red, tubular flowers are born in showy, terminal clusters on red pedicels. Leaves are palmately compound with long leaf stalks. They are oppositely arranged. Leaflets are elliptic to obovate with finely serrated margins. The tree or shrub has an open, rounded crown. Its fruit, which appears in the fall, is a large, brown capsule that splits to reveal one to several seeds that look like chestnuts.

Family: Sapindaceae (Soapberry family) Photo by Lisa Roberts Native range: Panhandle, north and central peninsula To see where Red buckeye occurs naturally, visit www.florida.plantatlas.usf.edu. Hardiness: Zones 8A–9B Soil: Rich, moist soil, but can tolerate drier soils Exposure: Full sun to partial shade Growth habit: 6–20’ Propagation: Seed Garden tips: Red buckeye is fast-growing and usually flowers early in its life cycle. It can thrive in full sun, but may require additional irrigation. Seeds germinate quickly (sometimes even before they drop from the tree).

Caution: Both the leaves and the seeds contain Photo by Walter Taylor saponins and are poisonous to humans and animals if ingested. Red buckeye is often available at nurseries that specialize in native plants. Visit PlantRealFlorida.org to find a native nursery on your area.

Florida Wildflower Foundation • 225 S. Swoope Ave., Suite 110, Maitland, FL 32751 • 407-622-1606 • www.FlaWildflowers.org