Aesculus flava (Yellow Buckeye)

Award-winning Aesculus flava (Yellow Buckeye) is a large deciduous tree of upright-oval to oval-rounded habit with immense secondary branches clothed in palmate compound leaves divided into 5-7 dark green leaflets. In mid to late spring, greenish yellow flowers are borne in erect panicles, 6 in. long (15), but are often almost lost among the leaves.

Award-winning Aesculus flava (Yellow Buckeye) is a large deciduous tree of upright-oval to oval-rounded habit with immense secondary branches clothed in palmate compound leaves divided into 5-7 dark green leaflets. In mid to late spring, greenish yellow flowers are borne in erect panicles, 6 in. long (15), but are often almost lost among the leaves. The flowers give way to smooth, pear-shaped, brownish capsules that contain one or two buckeyes. The foliage turns brilliant yellow to pumpkin-orange in the fall. The gray-brown bark features large, flat, smooth plates and scales on mature trunks. This species is regarded as one of the most spectacular and trouble-free as Yellow Buckeye appears less prone to disease than A. x carnea, A. glabra, and A. hippocastanum. A stately landscape tree for parks and large lawns. It may be planted as a shade tree.

  • Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
  • Grows up to 50-70 ft. tall (15-21 m) and 30-50 ft. wide (9-15 m).
  • Thrives in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun or part shade. Prefers moist, fertile, humusy-sandy loams.
  • Keep an eye out for canker, coral spot, leaf spot and horse chestnut scale.
  • Propagate by seed or grafting
  • All parts are mildly poisonous by ingestion.
  • Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.
  • Native to North America.

Requirements

Hardiness 3
– 8

Heat Zones 1
– 8

Plant Type Trees
Plant Family Aesculus
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)Summer (Early,Mid,Late)Fall
Height 50'
– 70'
(15m
– 21m)
Spread 30'
– 50'
(9m
– 15m)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Northeast, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Southeast, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow