General Culture:

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, fertile soils. Foliage tends to scorch and generally depreciate in dry conditions. This is a taprooted tree that once established is very difficult to transplant.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

Horsechestnut is native to the Balkans. It is a medium to large deciduous tree that typically grows 50-75’ tall with an upright oval-rounded crown. Light green palmate compound leaves emerge in spring, each with 7 (less frequently 5) spreading ovate-oblong leaflets to 4-10” long. Leaves mature to dark green in summer. Fall color usually consists of undistinguished shades of yellow and brown. Showy white flowers with red or yellow markings appear in upright terminal panicles in mid-spring (May in St. Louis). Fruit is a globular dehiscent capsule consisting of 1-2 horsechestnut(s) encased by a leathery light brown husk covered with sharp spines. Fruit on the tree is interesting but not particularly ornamental. When ripe, each horsechestnut turns a handsome shiny dark mahogany brown with a round light tan scar. Chestnuts and horsechestnuts are in totally different families. Chestnuts (Castanea) are in the beech family (Fagaceae) and produce edible nuts. Horsechestnuts and buckeyes (Aesculus) are in the horsechestnut family (Hippocastanaceae) and produce poisonous nuts. Horsechestnut is closely related to Ohio buckeye, being most easily distinguished from the latter by having spiny sharp fruits and sticky buds.