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Characteristics
 Family-
Hippocastanaceae--The Buckeye Family
- Origin
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Native NC
- Plant Description
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Deciduous tree to 20 feet; leaves opposite, palmately compound with 5 leaflets; flowers in April to May, scarlet to deep red, tubular, in upright clusters; seeds dark reddish brown, released from tan, smooth, splitting capsules.
- Ornamental Characteristics
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Beautiful upright clusters of bright red tubular flowers, interesting large leaves.
- Landscape Use
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Small specimen tree, large rounded shrub.
- Horticultural Cultivars
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None available
- Availability/Propagation
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Available in specialty nurseries and mail order. Propagate from seed collected in fall as soon as capsules split. Plant immediately outdoors, keep moist.
- Culture
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Transplant container grown young trees to moist, nearly neutral soils in full sun to partial shade. Protect from strong winds and salt spray by siting behind more salt tolerant plants.
- Coastal Ecology
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Red buckeye grows from Carteret County southward to Florida on the barrier islands and adjacent to the sounds in moist woods, along swamp margins and along tidal creeks, especially on alkaline soils with shell residue. Pollinated by hummingbirds. The seeds and young leaves of red buckeye are poisonous to humans, pets and farm animals, so if children or animals are about, care should be taken to collect and dispose of seeds when they drop in September. Leaves disfigured late in the summer every year by a leaf blotch fungus; no control necessary. Not tolerant of salty winds.
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