World Plants

Aesculus hippocastanum (Common Horsechestnut)

Michael's Opinion

A European native that at maturity becomes quite a regal specimen with its broadly pyramidal-rounded form and branches that ascend to the ground; it is spectacular in bloom. It does produce the typical chestnut fruit which can be a litter problem and suffers from extensive leaf anthracnose, other than being unsightly at this stage it does little to damage the tree since it occurs late in the season. I grew up playing the game of conkers with the nuts from this species in Cornwall, England.

Botanical Information

Family	Sapindaceae (Hippocastanaceae)
Genus	Aesculus
Species	hippocastanum
Category	Woody
Type	Tree (deciduous)
Origin	Europe, including Greece and Albania, frequently naturalized.
Pronunciation

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone	4 - 7
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone	2a - 7a
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness Zone	H5 - H7
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)	-35 -(-12)
Temperature (°F)	-30 - 10
Height	30 m
Spread	15 m
Growth	Medium
Flowering Period	May

Description and Growing Information

General Description	Broadly pyramidal-rounded form with branches ascending to the ground. Spectacular in bloom.
ID Characteristic	Large palmate leaf, with brown hairs on the upper surface of the leaf axil. Produces the typical chestnut fruit.
Shape	Large, pyramidal to rounded crown.
Landscape	As a specimen, park or landscape tree on a large property.
Propagation	Seed, 120 days at 5 °C, seed is recalcitrant and hence does not store for long.
Cultivation	Tolerant of a wide variety of conditions but likes adequate moisture in our summer droughts. Does not like waterlogged soil.
Pests	Extensive leaf blotch (Guignardia aesculi) but does little damage to the tree since it occurs late in the season and hence does not warrant control. Symptoms are irregular brown blotches with light yellow borders, with severe infections causing premature leaf drop. Remove and dispose of all fallen leaves in the autumn, do not compost. Prone to horse chestnut leaf miner ( Cameraria ohridella).
Notable Specimens	Lining the main drive at the Niagara Parks Botanical Garden (these were supposed to be the sterile cultivar Baumanii), Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Wakehurst Place, Ardingly, West Sussex, England. Lanhydrock Gardens, Cornwall, England.
Bark/Stem Description	Dark grey, forming large flat plates.
Flower/Leaf Bud Description	Very large, up to 1 cm, globose, acutely pointed, and resinous.
Leaf Description	Large palmate leaf, with brown hairs on the upper surface of the leaf axil.
Flower Description	20 cm panicles held candelabra fashion above the foliage.
Fruit Description	Produces the typcal chestnut fruit, 1-3 large brown nuts held in a dark green, spiked capsule.
Colour Description	Little autumn colour since the tree by this time is severely infected with leaf blotch, giving the leaves a rust appearance and texture: ugly.
Texture Description	Coarse textured tree.