Aesculus hippocastanum: Country Or Region Of Origin
Europe
Plant Profile: Aesculus hippocastanum
Taxonomy: Aesculus hippocastanumNames
Common Horsechestnut, European Horsechestnut, Horsechestnut
Phonetic Spelling:ES-kew-lus hip-oh-kas-TAY-num
Genus:Aesculus
Species:hippocastanum
Family:Sapindaceae
**Health Concerns:** Prone to leaf blotch and mildew; foliage frequently wilts by early autumn.
**Habitat:** Commonly used in landscapes as an ornamental flowering tree and along streets.
**Toxic Components:** Seeds and infusions made from leaves and young shoots are toxic.
**Growing Conditions:** Thrives in full sun to partial shade; prefers moist, well-drained soil and does not tolerate dry conditions.
**Leaf Texture:** Ranges from medium to coarse.
**Growth Habit:** Exhibits an upright form with a crown that is oval to rounded.
Aesculus hippocastanum Feature Summary
Aesculus hippocastanum Image Gallery
Tags
#deciduous
#poisonous
#full sun tolerant
#tree
#flowering tree
#street tree
#horsechestnut
#partial shade tolerant
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#problem for horses
Similar Plants
Aesculus hippocastanum Feature Summary
Attributes
Fruit
Fruit is 1 to 2 in., prickly, leathery capsule with large, shiny, brown seeds (each with a pale scar).
Brown/Copper
1-3 inches
Flowers
There are 5 to 12' panicle of creamy white flowers, which are large, with a yellow throat and red speckled center (in a large terminal cluster).
White
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Panicle
Leaves
Leaves include 7 lobes, are non-showy, and have yellow fall color. They are also opposite, palmately divided with 5 leaflets.
Deciduous
Gold/Yellow
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Opposite
Lobed
Poisonous to Humans
Poisonous if ingested. HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! Symptoms may include muscle weakness and paralysis, dilated pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, paralysis, and stupor. (Poison Part: Seeds and tea made from leaves and sprouts)
Glycoside aesculin, saponin aescin, possibly alkaloids
High
Seeds
Leaves
Stems
Flowers
Bark
Fruits
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Poisonous
Deciduous
Rounded
Erect
Oval
Medium
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
3a
3b
Stem
Landscape
Flowering Tree
Street Tree
Hummingbirds
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Aesculus hippocastanum Image Gallery
Aesculus hippocastanum Attributes
Aesculus hippocastanum Fruit
Aesculus hippocastanum: Fruit Description
Fruit is 1 to 2 in., prickly, leathery capsule with large, shiny, brown seeds (each with a pale scar).
Aesculus hippocastanum: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Aesculus hippocastanum: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Aesculus hippocastanum Flowers
Aesculus hippocastanum: Flower Description
There are 5 to 12' panicle of creamy white flowers, which are large, with a yellow throat and red speckled center (in a large terminal cluster).
Aesculus hippocastanum: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
White
Aesculus hippocastanum: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Aesculus hippocastanum Leaves
Aesculus hippocastanum: Leaf Description
Leaves include 7 lobes, are non-showy, and have yellow fall color. They are also opposite, palmately divided with 5 leaflets.
Aesculus hippocastanum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Aesculus hippocastanum: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color
Gold/Yellow
Aesculus hippocastanum: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Aesculus hippocastanum: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Aesculus hippocastanum: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Aesculus hippocastanum: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Aesculus hippocastanum Poisonous to Humans
Aesculus hippocastanum: Poison Symptoms
Poisonous if ingested. HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! Symptoms may include muscle weakness and paralysis, dilated pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, paralysis, and stupor. (Poison Part: Seeds and tea made from leaves and sprouts)
Aesculus hippocastanum: Poison Toxic Principle
Glycoside aesculin, saponin aescin, possibly alkaloids
Aesculus hippocastanum: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Aesculus hippocastanum: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Aesculus hippocastanum: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Aesculus hippocastanum Whole Plant Traits
Aesculus hippocastanum: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Aesculus hippocastanum: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Aesculus hippocastanum: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Aesculus hippocastanum: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Aesculus hippocastanum: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Aesculus hippocastanum Cultural Conditions
Aesculus hippocastanum: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Aesculus hippocastanum: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Aesculus hippocastanum: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
3a
3b
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
Aesculus hippocastanum Stem
Aesculus hippocastanum: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Aesculus hippocastanum Landscape
Aesculus hippocastanum: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Aesculus hippocastanum: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Aesculus hippocastanum: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
