Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, fertile soils. Foliage tends to scorch and generally depreciate in dry conditions. This is a taprooted tree that once established is difficult to transplant.
Horse chestnut is native to the Balkans. It is a medium to large deciduous tree that typically grows 50-75’ tall with an upright oval-rounded crown. Light green palmate compound leaves emerge in spring, each with 7 (less frequently 5) spreading ovate-oblong leaflets to 4-10” long. Leaves mature to dark green in summer. Fall color usually consists of undistinguished shades of yellow and brown. Showy white flowers with red or yellow markings appear in upright terminal panicles in mid-spring (May in St. Louis). ‘Baumannii’ is an old, double-flowered cultivar that was first identified in Geneva, Switzerland in 1819. It is primarily distinguished from the species by (1) later and longer bloom, (2) double white flowers, (3) no fruit and (4) taller and narrower habit.
Leaf blotch can be a significant problem. Powdery mildew, leaf spots and anthracnose may also occur. Bagworms, Japanese beetles and borers are infrequent but potentially troublesome. Leaf scorch (brown edges) may occur in droughty conditions or on sites exposed to wind.
A beautiful landscape tree for parks and large lawns. Depreciation of the foliage during the growing season due to disease, insect and scorching problems somewhat limits its value. It may be planted in the midwest as a shade tree or street tree.
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