Aesculus x arnoldiana (ES-kew-lus ar-nold-ee-AY-nuh)
Family: SapindaceaeUnknownUnderstory (15-40 ft)
Understory (15-40 ft)Unknown
Arnold buckeye is a hybrid of yellow buckeye ( A. flava ) × buckeye ( A. glabra ) × red buckeye ( A. pavia ) , which appeared spontaneously at the Arnold Arboretum in Cambridge, MA. The genus is taken from a Roman word for an edible acorn. The species name indicates that it is a cross (x) and that it was discovered at the arboretum. It is a member of the maple family (Sapindaceae). This medium-sized tree grows 15-35 feet tall and likes moist, well-drained soil but dislikes dry soil. It can tolerate shade. Its texture is medium to coarse with a form that is rounded to broad rounded and low-branched. The tree has showy, typical chestnut flowers which are held at the end of the branches. It produces a chestnut-like fruit in the autumn. The tree is relatively pest-free and can be used as a street tree. It has a good autumn color. The cultivar 'Autumn Splendor' is particularly showy in the fall. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 35 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Broad; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
This plant has opposite, compound leaves which have a yellow to orange fall color. The leaf is made up of five leaflets. These are elliptic in shape with a broad base and a relatively pointy tip. They are finely serrated. When they emerge in the spring, they have soft hairs, but as they mature, most of the leaflet loses the hairs. The top becomes totally smooth, but the hairs remain on the bottom along the midvein and some of the larger secondary veins. The mature leaves are a dull dark green on top and a pale yellow-green below.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Orange
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower detail
The flowers are held in a six-inch-high, densely packed panicle of yellowish flowers with red markings. They are the usual chestnut shape - tubular with a pronounced lip. As they are at the ends of the branches and held clear of the leaves, they make a good show.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Nut
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
The fruit is the typical horse chestnut. It has a thickly husked yellow-brown capsule that can hold as many as three chestnuts. The capsule is over an inch in diameter, while the chestnuts are smaller. They are glossy brown.
Bark color
Light Brown
Bark detail
The bark of this tree is pale and scaly.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
USA, Arnold Arboretum, Cambridge, MA
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Nut
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Naturalized Area; Woodland
Design feature
Flowering Tree; Shade Tree; Small Tree; Specimen; Street Tree
Garden tags
#deciduous #red flowers #yellow flowers #yellow leaves #full sun tolerant #orange leaves #problem for cats #problem for dogs #problem for horses #partial shade tolerant #fall interest
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Leaves
Poison symptoms
Severe vomiting and diarrhea, depression or excitement, dilated pupils, coma, convulsions, wobbly