Aesculus californica

Identification

Aesculus californica, California Buckeye and Horse Chestnut.
Buckeye trees are used as a nectar source for many native butterflies. Spring Azure/ Echo blue uses Aesculus californica as a larval food source.  Native plant equals native insect or bird. - grid24_3
Buckeye trees are used as a nectar source for many native butterflies. Spring Azure or Echo blue uses Aesculus californica as a larval food source.
A fragrant flower cluster of Aesculus californica, Buckeye, in our Santa Margarita garden in May.  - grid24_3
Aesculus californica, California Buckeye
Aesculus californica, Buckeye, in full bloom, with the lower leaves pruned, at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California.  - grid24_3
Aesculus californica, California buckeye pruned into small tree.
Another floriferous specimen of Aesculus californica, Buckeye, on the campus of  Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, California - grid24_3
Aesculus californica, California buckeye in flower. Some forms have some pink in them.
Aesculus californica, Buckeye, under summertime drought stress, in the chaparral of the central coast of California.  - grid24_3
Aesculus californica, California Buckeye, growing in the sierra Nevada's with Western Red Bud on a rocky slope.
Aesculus californica, Monarch Butterfly on Buckeye flowers - grid24_3
Aesculus californica with Monarch butterfly
The nut of the buckeye forms in a thin  paper like wrapper that splits when ripe. Dropping the seed to the ground.in winter, the storms cover it and it sprouts in January or so. - grid24_3
Aesculus californica, Buckeye nut measures about 3-5 cm. across.

Description

California Buckeye is a deciduous, small tree, normally growing to 15'. The showy 6" creamy- scented flower spikes appear in April-May. Native to the central coast ranges and Sierra Nevada mountains in partial shade to full sun, tolerant to drought but needs regular water for the first few years. The pear-like fruits are poisonous, and they were used as fish poison by the Pomo, Yana, Yokut and Luiseno peoples (Kroeber, 1925). Although the nuts have no taste to indicate toxicity, they were also ground and leached under running water for three days, then cooked into a gruel as an emergency food supply. Even though they are deadly we lost our first mother plants to gophers... Toxic to non-native bees, native bees and butterflies seem to like it. We've seen this tree in a few spots along the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains and coast ranges normally next to a spring, creek or other source of moisture. In the garden it will go deciduous early if it gets dry.

Available at our Online store.

Contact: pan@laspilitas.com
Container Size Quantity In Production Quantity For Purchase Unit-Price
One Gallon 2 0 $ 8.99

Available at our Santa Margarita store.

Contact: bawilson@laspilitas.com
Hours: Open Saturday only from 9am to 4pm
Address: 3232 Las Pilitas Rd. Santa Margarita, CA 93453
Container Size Quantity In Production Quantity For Purchase Unit-Price
One Gallon 0 2 $ 8.99
Five Gallon 0 4 $ 26.99

Available at our Escondido store.

Contact: escondido@laspilitas.com
Hours: Open Tuesday through Saturday from 9am to 4pm
Address: 8331 Nelson Way Escondido, CA 92026
Container Size Quantity In Production Quantity For Purchase Unit-Price
One Gallon 0 2 $ 8.99
Five Gallon 0 0 $ 26.99

Characteristics

Aesculus californica California Buckeye tolerates clay, serpentine and seasonal flooding.
Aesculus californica California Buckeye is great for a butterfly garden.
Aesculus californica California Buckeye's foliage color is lt-green and type is deciduous.
Aesculus californica California Buckeye's flower color is white and has a fragrance.

Communities

Communities for Aesculus californica California Buckeye:Coastal Sage Scrub, Mixed-evergreen Forest, Riparian (rivers & creeks) and Central Oak Woodland.

Ranges for Aesculus californica

ph: 4.00 to 8.00
usda: 6 to 10
height[m]: 3.00 to 5.00
width[m]: 5.00 to 12.00
rainfall[cm]: 101.00 to 900.00

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Last edited on 2012-10-14 10:35:37.

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