Red Horsechestnut (Aesculus carnea)

The Red Horsechestnut is a strong, broad tree with an arched crown which grows to heights of 20m. Bright red blossom in May. Yellow or brown autumn colouring. Rarely fruiting. Slightly spiny capsule with a brown nut.
Appearance

Appearance

 

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Leaves

Leaves

Short-stalked, pinnate, oblong-wedge-shaped leaves, decussate, with pointed tip, double serrated edge and wedge-shaped base. Leaves are glossy dark green above, pale green below. 10-30cm long and 10-35cm wide, leaf stem 15-25cm long. Yellow or red-brown autumn colouring.

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Flowers

Flowers

Flowering period V-VI. Bright red, short-belled tubular blossoms with distinctive throat marking and 4-5 petals per blossom, glandular and hirsute at the edge. Panicles are 15-20cm long and of particular ornamental value. The stamen is clearly visible and curved slightly upwards. The Red Horse Chestnut flowers after 10 years.

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Fruits

Fruits

Green, slightly spiny round capsule, 4cm wide, which breaks open. Rarely fruiting, with brown nut.

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Bark

Bark

Dark green bark, grey when older, smooth with shallow furrows or only peeling on one side, very attractive. Branches are pale grey, sometimes grey, chocolate brown in the second year and with round cross-section.

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Photos

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Types of damage

Application
Flowering tree, inner courtyards, solitary tree, bee pastures, parks, street / avenue tree
Native regions
Europe
Location parameters
Light: sunny to off-sun; soil type: sandy-loamy to loamy-clayey; nutrient concentration: normal to high; pH value of the soil: slightly acid to alkaline; soil: fresh to moist.
Demands
Fume-hardy, tolerates urban climates, intolerant of soil compaction; tolerates temporary dryness. Light: sun to off-sun.
Growth
15 - 20m high, 8-12m in diameter
Leaves
Short-stalked, pinnate, oblong-wedge-shaped leaves, decussate, with pointed tip, double serrated edge and wedge-shaped base. Leaves are glossy dark green above, pale green below. 10-30cm long and 10-35cm wide, leaf stem 15-25cm long. Yellow or red-brown autumn colouring.
Flowers
Flowering period V-VI. Bright red, short-belled tubular blossoms with distinctive throat marking and 4-5 petals per blossom, glandular and hirsute at the edge. Panicles are 15-20cm long and of particular ornamental value. The stamen is clearly visible and curved slightly upwards. The Red Horse Chestnut flowers after 10 years.
Fruits
Green, slightly spiny round capsule, 4cm wide, which breaks open. Rarely fruiting, with brown nut.
Bark
Dark green bark, grey when older, smooth with shallow furrows or only peeling on one side, very attractive. Branches are pale grey, sometimes grey, chocolate brown in the second year and with round cross-section.
Roots
Heart-rooting, deep-rooting; forms a dense network of roots, large proportion of fine roots.

 

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