Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

Aesculus sylvatica

painted buckeye

A deciduous shrub or small tree up to 9m, with palmate leaves consisting of 5 leaflets, deep burgundy in spring and becoming light green in summer. The showy upright clusters of flowers vary in colour from yellow to creamy, with pink or red in spring or early summer and followed by light brown round fruits

Synonyms
Aesculus sylvatica 'Georgiana'
Aesculus georgiana
see moreAesculus × neglecta var. georgiana
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
8–12 metres
Time to ultimate height
20–50 years
Ultimate spread
1.5–2.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Cream Yellow Red Red
Summer Cream Yellow Red Green
Autumn Brown
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed
Hardiness
H7
Botanical details
Family
Sapindaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Spreading branched
Potentially harmful
Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus

Aesculus can be deciduous trees or large shrubs with showy flowers, palmately-lobed leaves and sometimes good autumn colour

Name status

Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grows best in deep, fertile, moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. For further information, see our advice on tree cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Architectural
Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to horse chestnut scale and leaf-mining moth

Diseases

May be susceptible to coral spot, canker and leaf spot

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.