Virginia Tech Dendrology

horsechestnut Hippocastanaceae Aesculus hippocastanum L. symbol: AEHI
Leaf: Opposite, palmately compound leaf with usually 7, obovate, serrate leaflets (4 to 6 inches long), dark green above and paler below, petioles as long as leaflets.
Flower: Creamy white in a large showy upright cluster, 5 to 8 inches long, appear in spring.
Fruit: Nearly round with thick, leathery very spiny husks enclosing 1 to 3 smooth, chestnut brown seeds.
Twig: Stout, with a large shield-shaped leaf scar; terminal buds are large (1/2 to 1 inch); shiny, sticky and reddish brown, lateral buds are much smaller.
Bark: Light to dark brownish gray, developing irregular scaly, rough ridges.
Form: Upright, 40 to 60 feet tall with a round or oblong crown, 1 to 2 feet in diameter.
Looks like: yellow buckeye - Ohio buckeye - red buckeye - red horsechestnut

Additional Range Information: Aesculus hippocastanum is planted in the USDA hardiness zones shown above and may seed into the landscape. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information - USDAFS Forest Products Lab
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information