Aesculus
Horse chestnuts and buckeyes (Aesculus) are deciduous trees and shrubs from Europe, Asia and above all North America. They range from compact shrubs of about 2 m to stately park trees. Their hand-shaped leaves and upright candles of white, yellow, pink or red flowers in late spring or summer make them favourite ornamental and bee plants.
Aesculus carnea
The red horse chestnut (Aesculus x carnea) is a garden hybrid of the common horse chestnut and the red buckeye. It forms a medium-sized tree with a dense, rounded crown and dark green leaves, and bears upright panicles of pink to deep red flowers in May and June. It stays smaller than the common horse chestnut.
Esposizione e terreno
Grows best in full sun, in a deep, fertile and humus-rich soil that does not dry out. It is undemanding as to soil type and copes with dry spells better than the common horse chestnut, but leaves may scorch in drought or wind. Very hardy. Needs enough open ground around the trunk.
Potatura e cura
Water young trees regularly. Prune as little as possible: shape the crown while the tree is young and later only remove dead or crossing branches, avoiding large cuts. Once established, the tree is hard to move because of its deep taproot. It is generally less troubled by leaf diseases than the common horse chestnut.
Utilizzo in giardino
A fine flowering tree for parks, large gardens, squares and avenues. The flowers are an important source of nectar for bees. Some forms set few or no nuts, which keeps paths and lawns cleaner; where nuts are formed, they are toxic if eaten.
