Plant Profile: Aesculus parviflora

This shrub showcases a vibrant golden-yellow hue in the fall and forms colonies with a mound of large, compound leaves, spreading up to 10 feet. It is known to attract hummingbirds and Eastern swallowtail butterflies, propagating through suckers. The foliage is generally resistant to diseases and can be heavily pruned for rejuvenation. It is indigenous to the eastern United States.

Belonging to the Sapindaceae family (previously classified as Hippocastanaceae).

Description:

This deciduous shrub expands through root sprouts, featuring opposite leaves that are palmately divided into five leaflets. Its flowers are white and arranged in long terminal clusters, with stamens that exceed the length of the four petals. The fruit is a smooth, leathery capsule containing one to three large, shiny brown seeds, each marked with a pale scar known as the "buck's eye." This plant is particularly striking when in bloom and can be planted in groups or as a standalone specimen.

Toxic parts include the seeds and tea made from the leaves and sprouts.

Commonly found in landscapes as a cultivated flowering woody shrub.

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