Aesculus pavia (Red Buckeye)

Red Buckeye is a small understory tree or large shrub perfect for woodland gardens. It produces striking red blooms in the spring that are visited by hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. The blooms are followed by a pear-shaped seed capsule.

Red Buckeye is best grown in rich, moist soil with good drainage, but it is fairly adaptable. Its shape is more open in the shade, and it tightens the more sun it receives. It can handle fairly deep shade, but it blooms better if it gets 3-4 hours of sun, especially if it is protected from the hot afternoon sun.  It tends to drop its leaves by the end of the summer, often due to leaf blotch, but that does not seem to affect the plant’s overall health. It will suffer leaf scorch in the hot afternoon sun in the summer.

Red Buckeye is a perfect addition to woodland gardens, rain gardens, shrub borders or used as a specimen.

AT A GLANCE

DISTRIBUTION MAPS 

USDA MAP

BONAP MAP

Present in state

Present in county and native

Native to North America, but adventive & escaped in state

Not present in state

Present and rare, native in county

Previously present, now extinct

Questionable presence (cross-hatched, regardless of color)