Red Buckeye
Aesculus pavia
- Native to:
- United States
Eric Hunt
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Genus:
- Aesculus
- Species:
- Aesculus pavia
- USDA Symbol:
- AEPA
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 600 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- red, pink
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
- Hummingbirds:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented hummingbird visits (GBIF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Reported Fauna Sightings
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- hummingbirds, bees
- Fall Color:
- yellow
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers moist, fertile environments
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 germinate best after cold-moist stratification and scarification. Seeds lose viability quickly and should be planted fresh or stored moist.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are either fall sown after processing or they are cold, moist stratified for 5 months and planted in the spring.
Establishment: Seeds are purchased from local people who collect within a 50 mile radius of the nursery. Nuts are red-brown at maturity. Red buckeye is found in moist, rich soils, from Virginia and Missouri south to Texas and Florida. Seed sources are from south central Missouri.
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 @ 20°C. Seed germinates within 3 months * hydrophilic, germination unlikely with stored seed