Ohio Buckeye
Aesculus glabra
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
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Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Genus:
- Aesculus
- Species:
- Aesculus glabra
- USDA Symbol:
- AEGL
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 1500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, greenish-yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Reported Fauna Sightings
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, squirrels, deer browse foliage
- Fall Color:
- orange, yellow
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers fertile soils in floodplains and riverbanks
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 90–120 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Large seeds should be scarified or have hard seed coat filed/nicked before cold stratification. Keep moist but not waterlogged. Seeds lose viability quickly if allowed to dry out.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are placed in cold moist stratification for 120-150 days. They can be sown in fall after processing or in spring after stratification.
Establishment: Seeds are typically purchased from local collectors within a 50 mile radius of the nursery. The general distribution of Ohio buckeye is found on moist, rich soils from Pennsylvania south to Nebraska and Oklahoma and east to Tennessee. Conflicting information on the exact period of cold moist stratification (120 days vs 5 months).
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow immediately, Either the viability of these seeds is short or the species propagates best with fresh seed. Stored seed might be coaxed into germination with temperature cycling and patience. Sow at 4°C for 3 months, then place @ 20°C for 3 months. * hydrophilic, germination unlikely with stored seed