Aesculus carnea

Red Horse Chestnut

Red Horse Chestnut is the common name for Aesculus carnea, a large and rounded deciduous tree that grows to about 15 m tall and 10 m wide. The foliage comprises large and lush, dark green leaves which become adorned with masses of showy, pink-red flowers in summer. The flowers are followed by prickly, husky capsules with each containing two or three nuts. NB: the nuts are poisonous. This tree grows best when planted in full sun on a well-drained, semi-sheltered site. It is tolerant of cool climates, frost, and periods of dry. The Red Horse Chestnut tree makes a great addition to parks and large gardens where it serves as both a feature and shade tree.