Horse Chestnut
Aesculus hippocastanum · Deciduous Broadleaf
Plant Family
Sapindaceae
Tree Category
Shade and Ornamental Tree
Variety / Cultivar
None specified (Straight Species)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8.
About This Tree
A large, stately deciduous tree with a rounded, spreading, or oval crown. It features dense foliage, showy upright flower panicles, and prickly seed pods known as conkers.
Leaf Characteristics
Opposite, palmate compound leaves with 5-7 leaflets. Leaflets are obovate, 4-10 inches long, with serrated margins; dark green in summer, turning yellow or brown in fall.
Bark Characteristics
Smooth and dark gray when young, becoming fissured and scaly with age, often peeling in small plates to reveal orange-brown inner bark.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to the Balkan Peninsula; widely naturalized in temperate regions worldwide.
Growing Season
Leafs out early spring; flowers in late spring (May); fruits ripen in autumn (September/October); dormant in winter.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers full sun to partial shade; needs moist, well-drained soil; moderate drought tolerance once established but can suffer leaf scorch in dry periods.
Mature Size
Height: 50-75 feet; Spread: 40-70 feet; growth rate is moderate; can live for over 150 years.
Special Characteristics
Highly ornamental but susceptible to leaf miner and leaf blotch; wood is soft and light; seeds contain aesculin and are toxic if eaten raw.
Wildlife & Ecology
Flowers are an excellent source of nectar for bees and early-season pollinators; seeds are consumed by some mammals like deer and squirrels.