Scientific Name:
Aesculus flava
Pronunciation:
ESS-kew-lus FLAY-vuh
Common Name:
yellow buckeye
Family Name:
Sapindaceae
Plant Type:
Tree - deciduous
Key ID Features:
Leaves opposite, palmately compound, leaflets 5(-7), elliptic-obovate, most 10-20cm long x 3-7cm wide, 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 yellow petals; capsules smooth and rounded 4-6cm wide with (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:
Round
Texture:
Coarse
Mature Height:
15 - 22m
Mature Spread:
10 - 15m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
U.S. - northeast
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Humus rich
Landscape Uses:
Specimen plant, Spring interest, Street (boulevard tree), Summer interest (Caution: poisonous parts)
Additional Info:
Google. Compare to Texas buckeye.
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Compound
Arrangement:
Opposite
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Heavily veined
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Compound Leaf:
Digitate (palmate)
Colour in Summer:
Green, Dark-green
Colour in Fall:
Yellow, Orange
Shapes:
Elliptic, Obovate
Apices:
Acuminate
Bases:
Attenuate
Margins:
Serrate
Additional Info:
Spectacular fall colour
Inflorescence Type:
Thyrse, Floriferous, Panicle-like
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
4
Corolla Shape:
Tubular
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Yellow
Flower Scent:
None
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, Moderately fissured
Bark or Stem Colour:
Grey, Brown
Leaf Bud Type:
Conical (long-pointed)
Leaf Scar Shape:
U-shaped
Propagation:
Seed
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
(Pest resistant, Disease resistant)
