Horse Chestnut - Aesculus hippocastanum, species information page

Horse Chestnut - Aesculus hippocastanum
Family - Hippocastanaceae

This plant is poisonous.

Grows to 35m (114ft) with a large spreading crown, common in North America, Europe and East Asia, however the Horse Chestnut is originally a native of Greece and Albania. Palmately compound 5-7 obovate, toothed, unstalked leaflets to 30cm (12in) long, dark green turning yellow in the autumn. Bark reddish brown to grey and scaly. White flowers blotched yellow and/or red from large sticky buds, in large upright conical clusters to 30cm (12in) on the end of the branches, appear in April to June. Fruits a green spiky nut containing 1-3 dark brown glossy seeds, commonly called 'conkers'. Related species have pink or rose coloured flowers. An introduced species as a decorative tree commonly found in avenues, parks, open fields and ornamental gardens.

The name Horse Chestnut is thought to have come from the practice of adding flour made from ground conkers to the food of horses that had breathing difficulties. The "conker" derived it's name from the game played with them called "conquer". All parts of tree contains Aesculin, a bitter, poisonous glycoside, especially the fruit.

This plant is poisonous.

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