Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. Prefers rich, moist loams. Intolerant of dry soils, particularly in the early years before its root system becomes well established. Pruning is usually unnecessary. Plants will spread by suckering, but are generally not considered to be invasive.
Aesculus parviflora, commonly called bottlebrush buckeye, is native to rich woodland areas in Alabama, Georgia and northern Florida. It is noted for being one of the best summer-flowering shrubs for shade areas. It is a dense, deciduous, mounded, suckering, multi-stemmed shrub which typically grows 6-12’ tall clad with large, palmate, green leaves (each with 5-7 leaflets). Erect and showy cylindrical panicles (to 12” long) of tubular white flowers with conspicuous red anthers and pinkish filaments appear in a spectacular mid-summer bloom. Flowers give way to glossy inedible, pear-shaped nuts (buckeyes) encased in husks, however these nuts are infrequently produced in cultivation in the northern parts of this shrub’s growing range (including St. Louis). Foliage turns yellow in autumn. Aesculus parviflora var. serotina is native to Alabama. It differs from species plants by maturing to a larger size (eventually to 20' tall), producing larger inflorescences (to 30" long) and blooming about 3 weeks later in the year (mid/late July in the St. Louis area).
No serious insect or disease problems.
Excellent lawn specimen. Group or mass in shrub borders or woodland areas.
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Missouri Botanical Garden
4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63110(314) 577-5100 hours and admission
Butterfly House
Faust Park, 15193 Olive Blvd. Chesterfield, MO 63017(636) 530-0076 hours and admission
Shaw Nature Reserve
Hwy. 100 & I-44 Gray Summit, MO 63039(636) 451-3512 hours and admission