Horsechestnut

Horsechestnut

Aesculus hippocastaneum

Hippocastanaceae (Horsechestnut Family)

▲ ▼ Large tree on campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN

▲ ▼ Trunk, bark

▲ ▼ Flowers

▲ Leaves

Location on or near Missouri State University campus: unknown

Aesculus hippocastanum: Horsechestnut

leaves opposite, deciduous, palmately compound with 7 leaflets; each leaflet obovate and 4-8" long and 1/2 as wide; dark green and glabrous above, rusty pubescent underneath (when young)
stems are stout, gray-brown when young
bark is dark gray to brown becoming platey and fissured with age-- like apple tree bark
flowers are white and showy in terminal panicles in mid spring; fruit is a large capsule with 1-2 large, nut-like shiny seeds
prefers full sun to part shade with moist, well-drained soil; does not tolerate dry soils
medium growth rate