Horsechestnut

Scientific Name: Aesculus hippocastanum

Family: Hippocastanaceae

Origin: South East Europe

Trunk & Leaves of the Horsechestnut

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.
Horsechestnut Leaves & Foliage
Horsechestnut Leaves & Foliage
Fresh Conkers from a Horsechestnut
Fresh Conkers from a Horsechestnut

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

Photo Credit

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PAGE INFORMATION WAS COMPILED AS PART OF NOAH WERNING’S 2020 EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT.