Scientific Name:
Aesculus glabra
Pronunciation:
ESS-kew-lus GLAH-bra
Common Name:
Texas buckeye, Ohio buckeye
Family Name:
Sapindaceae
Plant Type:
Tree - deciduous
Key ID Features:
Leaves opposite, palmately compound, leaflets 5(-7), obovate-oblanceolate, most 6-16cm long x 3-6cm wide, unpleasant odor when bruised, underside with hairs along vein axils, margin sharply serrate, petioles can be long than the leaflet; thyrse erect, 10-15cm long, florets 2.5-4cm long x 5-9mm wide, tubular, 4 greenish-yellow petals, 1-2cm long; capsules with short prickles,, rounded, 4-6cm wide, (1-)2 seeds or "buckeyes" surrounded by a leathery light brown husk. Winter ID: large terminal flower buds (not sticky and lighter colour compared to horse chestnut).
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Oval - vertical, Round
Texture:
Medium - coarse
Mature Height:
10 - 15m
Mature Spread:
7 - 10m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
Canada - central, U.S. - central (S. Ontario)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Attract birds, Attract butterflies, Shade tree
Additional Info:
Google. Compare to yellow buckeye.
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Compound
Arrangement:
Opposite
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Compound Leaf:
Digitate (palmate)
Colour in Fall:
Yellow
Shapes:
Lanceolate
Apices:
Acuminate
Bases:
Attenuate
Margins:
Entire
Additional Info:
Spectacular fall colour
Inflorescence Type:
Thyrse, Panicle-like
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
4
Corolla Shape:
Tubular
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy
Flower Scent:
Fragrant
Flower Time at Peak:
Apr, May
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Showy, Nut-like but splits along carpel lines to release seed (poisonous unless roasted and then leached with hot water)
Bark Morphology:
Plated
Bark or Stem Colour:
Grey, Brown
Leaf Bud Type:
Conical (long-pointed)
Propagation:
Seed
Maintenance:
Medium
Pest Susceptibility:
(Rabbit resistant)
