painted buckeye
ExplorePlants
painted buckeye
Aesculus sylvatica
The painted buckeye is a beautiful tree with bright green leaves and stunning flowers that look like little butterflies! It’s a great tree for parks and gardens, adding color and beauty to nature.
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The painted buckeye is a small tree or large shrub with striking, upright clusters of pale yellow to reddish-pink flowers, often striped with red or orange. Its palmate leaves have five to seven leaflets, and its smooth, light brown bark develops into shallow ridges with age.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderSapindalesFamilySapindaceaeGenusAesculus
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
It's one of the very first trees to show off its vibrant green leaves in the springtime!
Its early spring flowers are like a welcome beacon for hungry bees and butterflies!
Squirrels sometimes bury the painted buckeye's toxic seeds, helping to plant new trees!
The name 'buckeye' comes from its dark seed with a light spot, resembling a deer's eye!
Special abilities
Ability
Toxic Seed Defense
Painted buckeye has toxic seeds containing saponins that deter most animals from eating them, helping it survive and reproduce.
Ability
Nectar Guides
Its colorful flowers feature nectar guides that lead pollinators like bees and butterflies to their sweet reward, ensuring pollination.
Ability
Early Spring Bloomer
The painted buckeye blooms very early in spring, giving it a head start attracting pollinators before many other plants.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 600-900 cm
- Spread
- 450-750 cm
- Flower Size
- 2.5-4 cm
- Bloom Season
- Early spring to late spring
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Moderate
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
collects nectar and pollen from its flowers.
pollinates
Common eastern bumblebee
Bombus impatiens
Feeds on nectar, transferring pollen between blooms.
depends on
Eastern gray squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
buries seeds, sometimes unintentionally planting them.
Traits
Deciduous
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Broadleaf Tree
Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
Nut Bearing
Nut bearing plants produce hard-shelled fruits, commonly known as nuts, which contain a single seed and are a valuable food source.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Fall Color
Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Do not eat the seeds, as they can be harmful. Always enjoy nature by looking, not touching!
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is painted buckeye?
600-900 cm
How wide does painted buckeye spread?
450-750 cm
How big are the flowers on painted buckeye?
2.5-4 cm
When does painted buckeye bloom?
Early spring to late spring
Is painted buckeye edible?
No
Is painted buckeye toxic?
Moderate
What is painted buckeye's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is painted buckeye pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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