Aesculus hippocastanum - European Horsechestnut, Common Horsechestnut (Hippocastanaceae) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aesculus hippocastanum is a large deciduous tree, known Twigs for its tall stately habit, prominent white flowers, and -gray stout stem; prominent brown leaf scars large nuts. European Horsechestnut is not widely planted -very large terminal dark brown bud(s) with large scales and in the U.S. because of potentially severe problems with a coating of shiny, sticky resin in late autumn through leaf scorch. It is extremely common in Western Europe. late winter -lateral buds smaller; branches light gray, rough FEATURES Trunk Form -dark gray to brown -large tree -fissured then becoming platy; eventually exposing a light -to 80' tall x 40' wide orange interior bark; noticeable and quite ornamental -upright oval -medium growth rate USAGE Culture Function -full sun to partial shade -specimen and shade tree for large properties like campuses -prefers a moist, well-drained -widely grown in Europe as a street tree where it seems less soil susceptible to disfiguring leaf scorch -tolerates urban stress but will Texture not look attractive due to leaf -bold in foliage and when bare scorch, especially in hot, dry Assets summers (common in Ohio) -stately specimen tree with early prominent white -low availability in B&B form inflorescences Foliage Liabilities -opposite arrangement -moderate to severe leaf scorch or powdery mildew in mid- -dark green; to late-summer deciduous; Habitat palmately -Zones 4 to 7 compound with 7 -Native to Europe (sometimes 5) leaflets that fuse SELECTIONS at their bases (no Alternates petiolules) -large specimen trees (Fagus sylvatica, Quercus macrocarpa, -obovate leaflets Q. bicolor, etc); spring white-flowering trees (widest near the Cultivars – Variants – Related species apex); acuminate -Aesculus hippocastanum 'Baumannii' - Baumannii (narrow tip); Horsechestnut - double white-petaled inflorescences that last doubly serrate longer than the species yet are sterile (produce no nuts) -early to leaf out; -Aesculus x carnea - Red Horsechestnut - hybrid orange pubescence between European Horsechestnut and Red Buckeye; to 40' x on emerging 20' with smaller pink inflorescences; does not show foliar petiole diseases as do most other Buckeyes and Horsechestnuts; -susceptible to often used as a street or specimen tree; B&B; low unsightly leaf availability; known as an urban-tolerant alternative where a scorch and/or powdery mildew by Aug. smaller Common Horsechestnut or a larger Red Buckeye is -autumn color - poor; scorched light brown to brown- desired yellow -Aesculus x carnea 'Briotii' - Briotii Red Flowers Horsechestnut - has deeper red inflorescences -white with red and yellow blotches at corolla base -12" long x 4" wide erect inflorescence of many solitary flowers; spectacular display -mid-May; inflorescence stands out above foliage Fruit -light brown spiny capsule -splitting in Sept.-Oct. to yield 1 or 2 - 1.25" dark brown nuts with a prominent white "buck eye".