painted buckeye Hippocastanaceae Aesculus sylvatica Bartram symbol: AESY Leaf: Opposite, palmately compound, 5 elliptical to obovate, serrated leaflets, each 4 to 6 inches long, dark green above, paler below. Flower: Upright clusters of yellow, yellow-green, cream, pink or even red bell-shaped flowers, each cluster 4 to 7 inches long, appearing in early spring. Fruit: Three-parted smooth husk containing usually 1 chestnut brown seed; matures in late summer. Twig: Stout, light brown or gray, with raised lenticels, large opposite shield-shaped leaf scars, large pointed orange-brown buds are often paired at the ends of twigs. Bark: Light gray-brown and smooth, mottled looking. Form: Large shrub or small tree up to 20 feet tall, open crown. Looks like: red buckeye - bottlebrush buckeye Additional Range Information: Aesculus sylvatica is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting painted buckeye. External Links: USDA Plants Database © Copyright 2014, Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, all rights reserved. Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson