Aesculus hippocastanum
Common Horsechestnut

Aesculus hippocastanum - Habit
 Family:
 Genus:
 Plant Type:
 Growth Forms:
 Hardiness:
 Deciduous / Evergreen:
 Flower Notes:
Multi-Colored (Very showy terminal panicles of flowers with white petals, each with reddish-yellow marks at inner petal bases; spring)
 Foliage Notes:
Green (Coarse dark-green palmately compound (7 leaflets) foliage in summer); Brown (Fall color sometimes yellow, but usually more brown and poor)
 Stem Notes:
Reddish-yellow to grayish-brown, stout, glabrous, slightly finely downy
 Fruit Notes:
Green (Prickly capsule in the fall; poisonous if ingested, containing 3-5% saponins)
 Ultimate Height:
50-75 feet
 Ultimate Spread:
40-70 feet
 Bloom Times:
 Fruiting Times:
 Light Requirements:
 Soil Water Requirements:
 Soil Notes:
Widely adaptable to soils, except those that are very dry
 Range:
Greece and Albania
 Maintenance:
 Diagnostic Characteristics:
Opposite, palmately compound leaves usually have 7 sessile, serrate leaflets (4-10" long by 2-5" wide) with a rusty tomentose on the bottom. Petiole is 3-5" long. Huge shield-shaped leaf scars. Large sticky terminal buds are reddish-brown.
 Ecological Functions:
Purdue Plant Doctor
Parts and Problems of Buckeye, Horse Chestnut
  Special Characteristics:
  • Notable Texture 282
  • Poisonous/Toxic 43
  • Park Tree 42
  • Shade Tree 181
  • Specimen 630

    • Additional Information

    Widely adapted to soils and environments; however, very dry conditions must be avoided. Leaf blotch often disfigures foliage. Spiny fruits in autumn can be troublesome underfoot, and eliminates species type as a good street tree. Fruits are toxic containing 3-5% saponins.

    When Aesculus hippocastanum has been observed flowering or fruiting at Purdue University

    Flowering

    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

    Fruiting

    JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

    6 Aesculus hippocastanum found

    Building Map...

    = Heritage plant = Memorial plant
    Number Accession ID Location
    1ORIG_7256*AHAWK
    2ORIG_0093*AMRPK
    3ORIG_2102*APGNW
    42023_00541*ACQS
    52024_00149*AHARR
    62024_00149*BHARR

    Other plants like this Aesculus hippocastanum (Common Horsechestnut)

    The Purdue Arboretum is a collaboration between the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and Physical Facilities Grounds Department

    Purdue Arboretum, 625 Agriculture Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN, 47907
    © 2026 Purdue UniversityAn equal access/equal opportunity universityCopyright ComplaintsMaintained by Purdue Arboretum Explorer
    Contact Purdue Arboretum at arboretum@purdue.edu for accessibility issues with this page | Accessibility Resources | Contact Us