# Red Horse-Chestnut (*aesculus × carnea*)

The Red Horse-Chestnut is a beautiful tree that produces bright, showy flowers. It’s a favorite spot for kids to play and explore in the park!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Typically found in parks and gardens, often planted for ornamental purposes.
- **Also known as:** Red Chestnut

![Red Horse-Chestnut](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Aesculus_carnea_BotGartenMuenster_PurpurKastanie_6685.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Rüdiger Wölk This photo was taken by Rüdiger Wölk . Please credit this photo Rüdiger Wölk, Münster . View all photos (large page) of Rüdiger, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aesculus_carnea_BotGartenMuenster_PurpurKastanie_6685.jpg)

## Appearance

The Red Horse-Chestnut has striking, upright clusters of deep pink to red flowers, often marked with a yellow blotch, making it highly visible. Its large, dark green leaves are palmate, shaped like an open hand, forming a dense, rounded canopy.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Sapindales
- **Family:** Sapindaceae
- **Genus:** Aesculus

## Interesting facts

- Ancient people once fed its seeds to horses, believing it helped with their breathing!
- Its 'chestnuts' look real but are poisonous imposters, never eat them!
- Look closely, the yellow spot on its flowers changes color to guide bees after pollination!
- This beautiful tree is a hybrid, meaning it's a natural mix of two different parent species!

## Special abilities

- **Pollinator Beacon:** Red Horse-Chestnut has vibrant red-pink flowers that contain nectar guides, helping insects find their way to pollinate them.
- **Toxic Shield:** The tree produces toxic compounds in its seeds, leaves, and bark, which helps it defend against most hungry animals.
- **Leafy Shade Provider:** Red Horse-Chestnut has large, dense leaves that create deep shade below, helping conserve water for itself and other plants.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 1500-2500 cm
- **Spread:** 800-1500 cm
- **Flower Size:** 10-30 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** High
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from its vibrant blooms.
- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen, contributing to reproduction.
- **Parasitizes:** Horse-chestnut Leaf Miner (*Cameraria ohridella*) — Larvae tunnel inside leaves, causing premature browning.

## Traits

- [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [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.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Be careful not to eat the seeds, as they are not safe for humans.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Red Horse-Chestnut?

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 Horse-Chestnut?

1500-2500 cm

### How wide does Red Horse-Chestnut spread?

800-1500 cm

### How big are the flowers on Red Horse-Chestnut?

10-30 cm

### When does Red Horse-Chestnut bloom?

Late spring

### Is Red Horse-Chestnut edible?

No

### Is Red Horse-Chestnut toxic?

High

### What is Red Horse-Chestnut's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Woodthrush Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/woodthrush-park) — California, US · Park

## 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 Horse-Chestnut: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-horse-chestnut-8256)