Aesculus hippocastanum 'Wisselink'

RHS Plant Profile

horse chestnut 'Wisselink'

RHS / Joanna Kossak

Trees

A slow-growing but ultimately large, spreading tree to 15m. The large, palmate leaves are green-veined silvery-white, turning slightly greener with age. Large, upright clusters of creamy-white flowers in late spring are followed by prickly, green fruit

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

wider than 8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: more than 50 years
Max Spread: wider than 8 metres
Max Height: Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: North–facing or South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Sapindaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Spreading branched
Potentially harmful: Humans/Pets (dogs): harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Aesculus can be deciduous trees or large shrubs with showy flowers, palmately-lobed leaves and sometimes good autumn colour
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Tolerates a wide range of conditions, but only suitable for large gardens

Propagation

Propagate by grafting

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Wildlife gardens
Low Maintenance

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

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

Diseases

May be susceptible to coral spot, canker, leaf spot and honey fungus