Horse chestnut is a large tree known for showy flowers in May. The clusters of white flowers may be 6 inches tall or more. This non-native can be messy when its fruit drops and offers little in the way of fall color.
This plant has some cultivated varieties. Go to list of cultivars.
Botanical name:
All Common Names:
Family (English):
Family (Botanic):
Planting Site:
- Residential and parks,
- City parkway,
- Wide median,
- Restricted sites
Tree or Plant Type:
- Tree
Foliage:
- Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
Native Locale:
- Non-native
Landscape Uses:
- Parkway/street,
- Shade tree,
- Specimen
Size Range:
- Large tree (more than 40 feet)
Mature Height:
Mature Width:
Light Exposure:
- Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily),
- Partial sun/shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
Hardiness Zones:
- Zone 3,
- Zone 4,
- Zone 5 (Chicago),
- Zone 6,
- Zone 7
Soil Preference:
- Moist, well-drained soil
Tolerances:
- Alkaline soil,
- Clay soil,
- Road salt
Acid Soils:
- Tolerant
Alkaline Soils:
- Tolerant
Salt Spray:
- Tolerant
Soil Salt:
- Moderately Tolerant
Drought Conditions:
- Intolerant
Poor Drainage:
- Moderately Tolerant
Planting Considerations:
- Messy fruit/plant parts
Ornamental Interest:
- Spring blossoms,
- Showy flowers
Season of Interest:
- Late spring
Flower Color & Fragrance:
- White
Shape or Form:
- Oval,
- Round,
- Upright
Growth Rate:
- Moderate
Transplants Well:
- No
Wildlife:
- Browsers,
- Migrant birds,
- Small mammals
More Information:
Tree & Plant Care
Avoid very dry situations as they contribute to leaf scorch.
Disease, pests, and problems
Prone to leaf scorch and a fungal leaf blotch (Guignardia).
Native geographic location and habitat
Native to the Balkans in Europe.
Bark color and texture
Bark is gray and with age, becomes platy with small sections falling away.
Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture
Palmately compound leaves in pairs (opposite); 5 to 7 leaflets per leaf. Each leaflet has a doubly toother margin.
Flower arrangement, shape, and size
White flowers held in a large, upright cluster in late spring
Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions
The fruit is a seed (the horse chestnut) in a prickly husk. The seed is poisonous.
Cultivars and their differences
Baumann's horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum 'Baumannii'): A double-flowered cultivar that produces no nuts.