Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra)
First place Ohio buckeye in Denver at Washington Park.
Species info:
Leaves: Opposite, palmately compound with 5 (occasionally 7) leaflets. Each leaflet is elliptic-oblong, 3–6 inches long, and pointed at the tip.
Leaflets: 5 per leaf (typical), spreading from a single point.
Leaf Surface: Medium green, smooth; turns early orange in fall.
Bark: Whitish and smooth to platey when young, becoming gray-brown and more furrowed with age.
Buds: Large, long (about ⅔ inch), brown, and pointed.
Flowers: Large, upright yellow inflorescences in May; showy and attractive to pollinators.
Fruit: Brown, hard capsules over 1 inch in diameter, covered in a prickly husk; contain 1–3 glossy brown seeds ("buckeyes")
Botanical: Aesculus glabra
Family: Sapindaceae
Mature Height: 20 to 40 feet
Canopy Spread: 20 to 40 feet
Foliage Type: Deciduous
Tree Shape: Rounded, low-branching, dense shade canopy
Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
Fall Color: Early orange to reddish-orange
Water Use: Low to moderate; drought-adaptive, reduces water use during dry periods
Hardiness: Zones 3–7
Soil Preference: Adaptable; prefers well-drained soils and tolerates drought once established
Wildlife Value: Flowers attract pollinators; seeds consumed by wildlife but toxic to humans and livestock
Pests/Pathogens: Minimal insect or disease issues reported
Planting Recommendations: Performs well across much of the state, but leaf scorch is common in hot, dry sites
Information Sources:
Michael Dirr, Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (University of Georgia, 1990)
Michael A. Dirr. Dirr’s Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs. Timber Press. 2011
