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Aesculus sylvatica Bartram

Common names: painted buckeye.
Synonyms: Aesculus georgiana Sargent, Aesculus neglecta Lindley, Aesculus octandra Marshall, Aesculus sylvatica Bartram var. lanceolata (Sargent) Bartram.
Family: Sapindaceae.

Brief description:
A small, deciduous tree or shrub, commonly 1–5 m (3–16 ft.) tall. Bark of mature trunks is flaky. Winter buds are large, with terminal buds ranging from about 0.5–1 cm long or longer. Leaves are opposite and palmately compound, with 5 (occasionally 7), relatively large (8–20 cm long) leaflets. Leaflet margins are variously serrate. Flowers are borne on a prominent, terminal inflorescence. Flowers bear 4, long (1–3.7 cm.), cream, yellowish green or pink colored petals that form a tube-shaped corolla. Fruits consist of a 2–4 cm long, more or less spherical, tan or brown, leathery capsule. The capsule splits open revealing 1–3 (occasionally as many as 6) large, smooth, lustrous, dark brown seeds, each with a conspicuous light brown scar. Painted buckeye is one of the first trees in Piedmont forests to produce leaves and flowers in spring.

USDA Profile

Herbarium sheet images:
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Live specimen images:

• Individual leaf • Branchlet with buds • Close-up of buds • Flowers • Close-up of flower •

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