1. * California Buckeye – Aesculus californica
(EES-kyu-lus cal-ih-FOR-ni-cuh)
Family: Hippocastanaceae (Buckeye Family)
California foothills from L.A. Co. to OR; on dry slopes, canyons and the borders of
streams in many plant communities including chaparral and edges of oak and pine woods.
Native to:
woody tree/shrub
mature height: 12-25+ ft. mature width: 15-30 ft.
Drought-deciduous woody tree with a broad, rounded crown. Leaves large, palmately compound (5
leaflets), shiny dark green above, paler below. Bark a smooth gray.
Foliage is dense, attractive.
Note: roots, foliage, fruits, seeds & even honey from the flowers are toxic to humans & animals.
Growth characteristics:
Blooms usually in mid-spring (Apr-May) but may be as late as July. Inch-long
flowers are white to pale pink, with showy long stamens. Densely clustered on long flowering stems.
Flowers are sweetly fragrant. Plant is extremely showy in bloom. Fruits are pear-shaped leathery
capsules containing a large, hard seed. Nectar is toxic to European honeybees.
Blooms/fruits:
Uses in the garden: Most often used as a large shrub or pruned into a small tree.
Makes a nice
accent plant with its showy blooms, unique foliage. Good trunk structure makes it interesting even
without leaves. Good on dry banks and slopes or as an informal hedge. Scented gardens.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native flowering trees.
Attracts: Good habitat plant: provides cover and nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies.
Requirements:
Element
Sun
Soil
Water
Fertilizer
Other
Requirement
Full sun (best) to part-shade.
Well-drained best, but will tolerate heavy soils; any local pH (5.0-9.0).
Little summer water once established – Zone 1-2 best.
Not fussy – likes a leaf or bark mulch.
Prune to shape or just to remove dead branches (when dormant – winter). Quite
disease/ pest-free but susceptible to Phytophthora ramorum (Sudden Oak Death; SOD), gophers.
Management:
Propagation: from seed: easy from fresh seed
by cuttings: hardwood, when dormant
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 3, 8, 13, 24
* Native to CA but not to Western L.A. Co.
3/9/10
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