# Red Buckeye (*Aesculus pavia*) The Red Buckeye is a beautiful tree with bright red flowers that bloom in spring. It has large, shiny leaves and can grow up to 20 feet tall, making it a lovely sight in parks and gardens. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 11 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Red Buckeye](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Aesculus_pavia_2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Eric Hunt, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aesculus_pavia_2.jpg) ## Appearance The Red Buckeye has striking clusters of bright red, tubular flowers in spring, making it easily identifiable. Its large, palmate leaves have five to seven leaflets. It produces shiny, dark brown seeds with a pale spot, truly resembling a deer's eye. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Sapindales - **Family:** Sapindaceae - **Genus:** Aesculus ## Interesting facts - Even though they look yummy, every single part of the Red Buckeye is toxic! - Its bright red flowers are like perfect straws for hummingbirds' long beaks! - Native Americans once used parts of the plant to make stunning red dyes! - The name 'buckeye' comes from its shiny, dark seeds, like a deer's eye! ## Special abilities - **Nectar Beacon:** Red Buckeye can attract hummingbirds with its bright red, tubular flowers, ensuring successful pollination. - **Poisonous Shield:** Red Buckeye has toxic seeds, leaves, and bark that help it defend against hungry herbivores. - **Early Bloomer:** Red Buckeye can flower early in spring, getting a head start on resources and attracting pollinators. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-600 cm - **Spread:** 300-600 cm - **Flower Size:** 2.5-4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** High - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Bird ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Ruby-throated Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruby-throated-hummingbird) (*Archilochus colubris*) — Its tubular red flowers provide nectar. - **Pollinates:** [Two-spotted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/two-spotted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus bimaculatus*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from the flowers. - **Shelter:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Uses branches for nesting and perching. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not eat the seeds from the Red Buckeye; they can make you feel sick. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Red Buckeye? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Red Buckeye? 300-600 cm ### How wide does Red Buckeye spread? 300-600 cm ### How big are the flowers on Red Buckeye? 2.5-4 cm ### When does Red Buckeye bloom? Spring ### Is Red Buckeye edible? No ### Is Red Buckeye toxic? High ### What is Red Buckeye's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Ashley River Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashley-river-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Batesville East Main Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/batesville-east-main-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Charlotte Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/charlotte-street-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-st-jean-baptiste-state-historic-site) — Louisiana, US · Nature Reserve - [Market Square](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/market-square) — Tennessee, US · Historic District - [Blue Springs Heritage Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blue-springs-heritage-center) — Arkansas, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Red Buckeye](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/red-buckeye) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Red Buckeye: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-buckeye)