Ohio Buckeye – Simcoe County Master Gardener

Simcoe County Master Gardeners

Grow Natives!

PLANT PROFILE

COMMON NAME: Ohio Buckeye

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Aesculus glabra

Family	Soapberry
Cdn Native Range	all of ON
Natural habitat	rich, well-drained sites, esp. on floodplains
Features	palmate leaves; yellow–orange fall foliage; relatively disease- and insect-free; fruits are seldom harvested by wildlife
Growth habit	an upright, single-stemmed, medium-sized softwood tree with a broad crown; slow-growing shade tree
Mature height	9–15 m
Mature trunk width	50 cm
Life span	80 years
Cdn Hardiness Zone	2b–6b
Growing conditions	sun to part shade
Soil conditions	moist, deep, well-drained, grows well in poor soil
Watering needs	supplementary watering for the first 2–3 years and during dry periods
Tolerance	urban conditions, shade, all soils
Pruning needs	maintenance pruning is optional for structure
Bloom	greenish-yellow panicle with bright red or orange markings on the petals; attracts pollinators including hummingbirds
Fruit	a brown nut encased in a light spiny husk contains 2–4 seeds that drop in Sept–Oct
Pollinator support	bumblebees are the most common visitor for pollen while other bee varieties, butterflies and hummingbirds consume the nectar
Environmental support	nesting sites and cover for birds; soil nutrient enhancement due to their higher phosphorus content
Garden Use	fence lines, accent tree, ornamental
Risks & Cautions	most parts incl the large seeds are toxic; unpleasant smell when leaves and twigs are bruised; fruit drop; late frost sensitivity

References: John Laird Farrar, Trees in Canada; Linda Kershaw, Trees of Ontario; Lorraine Johnson and Sheila Colla, A Garden for the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee; Heather Holm, Bees: An Identification and Native Plant Forage Guide.