Outstanding Features:
Creamy yellowish flower clusters in spring. Good small tree form.

Description:
Height: 20-40'
Width: 20-30'
Hardiness Zone: 3b

Ohio Buckeye has a dense oval to round form, branching quite low. It is one of the first trees to leaf out in the spring. The leaves are palmately compound with 5­7 leaflets that are 4­5 inches long. Foliage is medium to dark green and may develop yellow or orange fall color. In spring the tree is covered with many upright panicles of creamy yellowish flowers. Fruit is a glossy brown nut enclosed in a thick husk.

Requirements and Culture:
Ohio Buckeye is well adapted to a broad range of soil and climatic conditions. It performs best in moist, well drained soil. Full sun or partial shade.

Limitations:
The major limitation of Ohio Buckeye is its susceptibility to leaf scorch. This is a physiological problem which results in browning of the leaf margins beginning in mid summer. By late summer to early fall the trees look unsightly and are often partially defoliated. Litter from husks and nuts can be a problem.

Selected Cultivars:

Aesculus `Autumn Splendor' ­ is similar to Ohio Buckeye but has excellent resistance to leaf scorch. It has glossy dark green leaves which remain in good condition throughout the growing season. It develops an outstanding maroon red fall color. Although it is currently not available in the nursery trade, `Autumn Splendor' should become available in the near future. It was introduced by the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

Photo Credit: 1 E. Hasselkus; 2 MLA. Photo 2 is `Autumn Splendor'.

Minnesota Power | University of Minnesota | Northern States Power Company

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