Aesculus hippocastanum 'Umbraculifera'

RHS Plant Profile
horse chestnut 'Umbraculifera'

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Synonyms

Aesculus hippocastanum 'Globosa'

Plants for pollinators
Trees Shrubs
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A very short-trunked or shrubby Horse chestnut in a tight dome of palmate leaves. Flowers are white 'candles' becoming fruits with, spiny cases revealing conkers inside when ripe.

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
20–50 years
Max Spread
2.5-4 metres
Max Height
2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–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

Grows best in deep, fertile, moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade; suitable for medium-sized gardens. For more information, see our advice on tree cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings

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