Hansen's Northwest Native Plant Database
Aesculus californica (Buckeye, Horse Chestnut, California Horse Chestnut)

 

Kingdom

: 

 Plantae – Plants

Subkingdom

: 

 Tracheobionta – Vascular plants

Superdivision

: 

 Spermatophyta – Seed plants

Division

: 

 Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants

Class

: 

 Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons

Subclass

: 

 Rosidae

Order

: 

 Sapindales

Family

: 

 Hippocastanaceae – Horse-chestnut family

Genus

: 

 Aesculus L. – buckeye

Species

: 

 Aesculus californica (Spach) Nutt. – California buckeye

This beautiful chestnut tree is native to southwest Oregon and California. It is hardy between USDA zones 6-10.

A fast grower, Buckeye reaches heights of 20’ and forms a well-rounded crown. This tree provides a perfect hideaway for summer naps as the broad, pale green leaves open like hands to protect against the sun and rain.

In May, the tree is covered with beautiful, fragrant flower spikes, attractive to hummingbirds.

Come autumn the telltale giant chestnut seeds fall to the ground (those that the squirrels and chipmunks leave behind, that is).

These nuts are poisonous although many Native groups developed ways of detoxifying them as an emergency food. Buckeye prefers moist soils and will tolerate seasonal flooding.

Photo below left by Fell Wraith. Photo below right by Eugene Zelenko.
   

     

Photo above by James Gaither
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