Aesculus parviflora

Bottlebrush Buckeye

Family: Hippocastanaceae, Sapindaceae

Native Region: Southeastern US, Pennsylvania, NY, New Jersey

Plant Community: Red Maple, Oak Hickory, Old Field

Size: 8-12′ tall, 8-15′ wide

Hardiness Zone: 5-8

Habitat: Found in rich woodlands with average to moist soil. This species does well in full sun to partial shade and can tolerate wet soil. Its dense, mounded, suckering root system is good to erosion control and colonizing after disturbance.

Leaf: Green during summer, yellow in the fall.

Flower: White cone flowers from June to July.

Ecosystem services: Good choice for for floodplains because of its preference for moist soil, but also for ridges and areas prone to erosion because of its strong root system. It is also rabbit and deer tolerant, and some uses include butterfly gardens, rain gardens, and areas of wet soil.