Habitat

• a hybrid between A. pavia and A. hippocastanum
• probably originated as a chance hybrid made by insects, in 19th century Germany
• zone 4

Habitat and Form

• medium shade tree; deciduous
• broad-rounded crown
• 30' to 40' tall
• medium texture

Summer Foliage

• opposite, palmately-compound leaves, usually with 5 leaflets
• beautiful dark green, late into fall (October)

Autumn Foliage

• similar to A. hippocastanum; brown

Flowers

• blooms in late spring
• erect 5" to 8" clusters of pink to red flowers

Fruit

• capsule, 1-1.5" long, round
• husks light brown, prickly; seed glossy brown

Bark

• similar to A. hippocastanum; dark gray-brown, platy on old wood

Culture

• similar to other Aesculus
• more drought-tolerant than A. hippocastanum

Landscape Use

• specimen or shade tree

Liabilities

• leaf, twig and fruit litter can be a problem
• sunscald of trunks in colder parts of range
• less prone to leaf scorch, leaf blotch and mildew than A. hippocastanum

ID Features

• large, palmately compound leaves, smaller and darker green than A. hippocastanum
• large, resinous terminal bud not as sticky as that of A. hippocastanum
• smaller, more rounded habit than A. hippocastanum

Propagation

• some reports indicate that A. x carnea breeds true, some that it is nearly sterile
• usually propagated by grafting

Cultivars/Varieties

'Briotii' (Ruby Red Horsechestnut) - Slightly smaller than the species, with larger flower clusters and deeper red flower color. The most popular cultivar of this species, less susceptible to fungal disease than other Aesculus.

'O'Neill' - Rarely available, but purported to have flowers in foot-long panicles that are an even deeper red than 'Briotii'.

'Fort McNair' - Selected at the fort of the same name in Washington, D.C. Flowers are pink with a yellow throat.