Plant · P-1019

Red Buckeye

Aesculus pavia

Red Buckeye is a small, clump-forming deciduous tree or shrub that opens tall, upright spikes of tubular red to orange-red flowers in early spring before most other trees have leafed out, timed to greet migrating hummingbirds arriving for the breeding season. Its palmate leaves and smooth, rounded seed capsules give way in fall to shiny brown seeds that squirrels cache and eat, but every part of the plant - bark, leaves, flowers, fruit and seed - is toxic to people, cats, dogs and horses if eaten. It grows best in part shade on moist, well-drained soil across a wide pH range, and can scorch in full sun during hot weather.