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Botanical name: Aesculus pavia
A very attractive small tree for general garden use, with upright panicles of intensely red flowers in spring; just the right size for small home landscapes and gardens, makes a great small feature tree.
| Hardiness zone | 4b |
|---|---|
| Flower color | ruby |
| Foliage type | deciduous * |
| Plant form | round |
| Mature height | 15 feet |
| Spread | 15 feet |
| Light requirements | full sun to shade |
| Moisture requirements | average to moist |
| Plant origin | Texas Native |
* deciduous = loses leaves in winter
Red Buckeye features showy spikes of ruby-red flowers rising above the foliage from early to mid spring. It has dark green foliage throughout the season. The palmate leaves do not develop any appreciable fall color. The fruit is not ornamentally significant. However, the fruit can be messy in the landscape and may require occasional clean-up.
Red Buckeye is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.
This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting squirrels to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
Messy
Red Buckeye is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Accent, General Garden Use
Red Buckeye will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.
This shrub performs well in both full sun and full shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is native to parts of our region.
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