| Buckeye trees, genus Æsculus are well known North American shrubs or trees. My book Trees of Seattle (both editions) accounts for those treelike species found in Seattle. Now this article gives you an update on two kinds that are not in the book, but would get cited in any third edition. Also, a recap on the species that are in the book. All told, six kinds of buckeye trees found in Seattle --excluding any known only at Washington Park Arboretum. |
| To begin with, Buckeye is an American name for native species of Æsculus; the European species Æsculus Hippocastanum is the common Horsechestnut tree. |
| All Æsculus species and hybrids are more or less good-looking, so are planted as ornamental trees. The various species can be shrubby or large trees. They have conspicuous flowers. Their nuts are not usually deemed edible, except in some cases of hunger, when they are detoxified to obtain starch. |
Here are names, synonyms, brief remarks, and illustrations, arranged in the same common name alphabetical sequence as in Trees of Seattle, so book owners can proceed easily, and pencil in the additions.
|
| Bottlebrush Buckeye |
| Æsculus parviflora Walt. |
| A shrub or tiny tree rarely, from Alabama and SW Georgia. Extraordinarily slender white flower clusters account for its bottlebrush name. In Seattle, it is seen at the Locks and at Washington Park Arboretum. |
| California Buckeye |
| Æsculus californica (Spach) Nutt.) |
From California and SW Oregon. In Seattle, rare. Our largest is at the Locks. Remarkable for its pale bark. Flowers white or pale pink, anytime from late June thru mid-August. Fall color is early and dull usually.
|
California Buckeye flowers ; photo by ALJ
|
| Ohio Buckeye |
| Æsculus glabra Willd. |
| In Seattle, known in its purebred state only at Washington Park Arboretum. However, its hybrid cultivar 'Homestead' (Æsculus flava X Æsculus glabra) is planted these days. Thirteen young specimens are on 17th Ave NE, between NE 45th St and Ravenna Blvd, along with 165 Common Horsechestnut trees, 1 Redflower Horsechestnut tree, and 4 Yellow Buckeye trees. On Ravenna Blvd, east of 15th Ave NE, are 3, plus 37 Common Horsechestnut trees, 4 Redflower Horsechestnut tree, and 4 Yellow Buckeye trees. I made my survey on October 1st, and possibly one specimen I called a hybrid Ohio Buckeye tree, is just a young Yellow Buckeye tree. |
Ohio Buckeye fall color ; photo by ALJ
|
Homestead Buckeye fall color ; photo by ALJ
|
| Red Buckeye |
| Æsculus Pavia L. |
| From the southeastern USA. Its purebred specimens are very rare little trees in Seattle. But its hybrids with Common Horsechestnut, called Red Horsechestnut, are common. Red Buckeye flowers are deep red and slender as firecrackers. Its nuts lack prickles. |
Red Buckeye flowers in winter ; photo by ALJ
|
| Texas Buckeye |
| Æsculus glabra var. arguta (Buckl.) Robins. |
From the south Midwest USA. In Seattle, it is seen only at Washington Park Arboretum, except I found one in a backyard in a home in Magnolia neighborhood. It is a bushy tree, with usually subtle fall color. Its flowers are not notably showy. In other words, it is not undeservedly rare.
|
Texas Buckeye fall color ; photo by ALJ
|
| Yellow Buckeye |
| Æsculus flava Soland. |
| = Æsculus octandra Marsh. |
Also called Sweet Buckeye. From the eastern USA. Uncommon in Seattle. Usually has superb fall color, relatively early in autumn. Its nuts lack prickles. Its bark is relatively pale and smooth compared to Common Horsechestnut. Its flowers are typically yellowish, but some trees with pinkish hint at possible hybrid background.
|
Yellow Buckeye unopened nut husks ; photo by ALJ
|
Yellow Buckeye fall color ; photo by ALJ
|
Yellow Buckeye flowers ; photo by ALJ
|
That is my overview for you.
Back |
