Habitat

• native to southeastern United States, from Virginia to Florida and Louisiana
• zone 4

Habit and Form

• large shrub or small tree
• deciduous
• clump-forming, round-topped, broader than it is tall
• 8' to 12' tall in landscape, over 30' tall in wild

Summer Foliage

• opposite, palmately-compound leaves, with 5 leaflets, each 2" to 5" in length
• lush, dark green color

Autumn Foliage

• loses leaves early (late September)
• no appreciable fall color

Flowers

• blooms in May to early June
• panicles 3" to 6" long, of 1" to 1.5" long, red flowers
• petals remain closed

Fruit

• capsule, flat and rounded
• husk light brown and smooth, 1 or 2 shiny brown seeds within
• ripe in October

Bark

• branches smooth

Culture

• best habit in full sun; opens up in shade
• flowers well in dense shade
• best in moist, well-drained soil
• not as mildew-prone as A. hippocastanum

Landscape Use

• uncommon; adds variety to the landscape
• specimen or accent for its flowers and habit
• in a border or for massing

Liabilities

• may be difficult to find in the trade
• leaf blotch

ID Features

• smallest of the tree-forming Aesculus
• typical palmately compound leaves of Aesculus
• fruit flattened, smooth
• large, non-resinous terminal buds

Propagation

• by seed

Cultivars/Varieties

Few selections are widely available, but may enter commerce as appreciation grows for this fine native.

var. flavescens - Naturally-occuring yellow-flowered plants that offer a new look for this species.

'Atrosanguinea' - described as having deeper red flowers.

'Humilis' - a shrub-like form lacking the upright nature of the species, low and with smaller flowers.