Aesculus californica (California Buckeye)

Aesculus californica (California Buckeye) is a deciduous large shrub or small tree with an open somewhat flattened canopy that holds attractive palmately compound leaves with 5 to 7 leaflets. Emerging pale apple green, the leaves mature to lustrous dark green leaves. In late spring to early summer, a profusion of sweet-scented, creamy-white flowers (sometimes pink) with spidery anthers are borne in 4-12 in. erect panicles (10-30 cm). The floral display is quite spectacular and the tree resembles a giant candelabra. The flowers are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. They give way to smooth, pear-shaped capsules that contain one or two pale orange-brown seeds. The smooth, light to pale silver bark of this low-branched tree, often adorned with multiple trunks, is beautiful. California Buckeye has an early leaf drop and is deciduous for a good part of the year. In California, it begins new growth in the warm, moist spring but usually enters dormancy during the dry summer season.