Horsechestnut

Scientific Name: Aesculus hippocastanum

Family: Hippocastanaceae

Origin: South East Europe

Common Names: Common Horsechestnut, European Horsechestnut, Conker Tree

Why is it called the Horsechestnut? The tree was thought to be a member of the chestnut family (but it’s not), and it was believed that the fruit or seeds could help panting or coughing horses.

Mature Height: 50-75 feet

Mature Width/Spread: 40-65 feet

Leaves: Opposite compound light green leaves in the spring that turn darker green. The leaves have 5-7 leaflets that spread out in a fan shape. It also has large flowering clusters that produce white flowers with a yellow and red tinted base.

In the fall, the leaves become: dull yellow to brown

Flowers: White flowers grow in clusters at the ends of the branches. The flower bunches are sometimes called candles because they brighten up the tree.

Fruit: One to five fruits develop in each flower bunch which contain nut-like seeds called horse chestnuts, also known as conkers.

Historical tidbit: The Anne Frank tree, which was located in Amsterdam, was a Horsechestnut tree that she wrote about in her diary

Did you know …

the seeds from this tree are eaten by squirrels and deer.
the horsechestnut tree’s fruit is toxic to humans and most animals, even horses.
in Ireland and Britain, the seeds are used for a popular children’s game called conkers.

Sources

https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=1103

https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/horse-chestnut

https://study.com/academy/lesson/horse-chestnut-tree-facts-lesson-for-kids.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesculus_hippocastanum

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