European Horsechestnut seeds

Habitat

native to Greece and Albania
found in mountainous regions
zone 3
commonly cultivated throughout temperate zones
Habit and Form

a large, deciduous flowering tree
texture is medium to coarse
commonly 50′ to 75′ tall, but 100′ specimens are possible
upright-oval to rounded form
almost all specimens I observed were taller than they were broad
lower branches hang down with branch tips turning upward

Summer Foliage

opposite, palmately-compound with 7 leaflets
each leaflet is 4″ to 10″ long and obovate with an acuminate tip
leaves are light green as they unfold and turn dark green at maturity
veins are impressed in the leaflets making them appear corrugated
leafs out early

Autumn Foliage

poor yellow or just brown
often leaves are so scorched and blotched that good fall color is not possible
Flowers

very showy, reaching a peak in mid-May
white with a blotch of yellow and red color at the base
terminal panicles, 5″ to 12″ long and 2 to 5″ wide

Fruit

2″ to 2.5″ diameter capsules with 1 or 2 seeds
has a dehiscent, spiny husk, light brown in color
matures in September and October
kids love to collect up the seeds and use them as they see fit

Bark

exfoliates in plates on older branches and the trunk to reveal showy orange bark underneath
most of the bark is dark gray and brown
interesting feature

Culture

full sun is best
prefers a roomy soil that is moist, but well-drained, but fairly soil adaptable
transplant B&B or from container
avoid hot, dry locations to minimize leaf scorch and other problems
Landscape Use

good in parks, on campuses, in arboreta, large public areas, golf courses, etc.
needs room to develop growth
somewhat overused in parts of the eastern United States
good for shade and also decoration (flowers)
Liabilities

there is a tendency to overuse this species
fruits can be messy
large and cannot be used at small residences
leaf scorch and blotch can be serious problems and occur to some degree nearly every year
powdery mildew
young leaves and fruit are considered poisonous

ID Features

large, resinous buds, reddish brown
large, 7-leaflet, palmately-compound leaves
leaves have impressed veins
fruits are the most spiny of all Aesculus

Propagation

by seed
cultivars are grafted
Cultivars/Varieties

‘Baumannii’ – Rather impressive form that has double white flowers. The double flowers last longer than single flowers and do not produce fruit. No fruit litter mess and therefore a good improvement over the species.