Aesculus x carnea
Red Horsechestnut Tree
This tree is the progeny resulting from an Aesculus pavia (red buckeye) and A. hippocastanum (horse-chestnut) hybrid. The most outstanding feature of the red horsechestnut tree is the profusion of showy pink to red flowers that bloom from late April to early May. The flowers produce a dehiscent capsule which contains the recognizable “buckeye” style fruit. Seedlings collected from a red horsechestnut tree will hold the characteristics of the parents, but most sold on the ornamental market are grafted. The red horsechestnut is a medium-sized, deciduous shade tree, typically growing 30 to 40’ tall with a broad rounded crown. The tree’s beautiful, dark green leaves are oppositely arranged, and palmately compound, usually with 5 leaflets. These leaves typically exhibit less powdery mildew than the A. hippocastanum parent but when powdery mildew is present early leaf drop can be an issue. The flowers are carried on 5” to 8” erect clusters at the terminal ends of the branches. We have two red horsechestnut trees on campus, one is on the northwest side of Benjamin Hall and the other is near South Gate.