4658 Johnson Cove
Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)
Aesculus pavia, known as red buckeye, is a small, deciduous tree or shrub that may grow 15 to 25 feet tall. It is quite ornamental in spring when tubular, red flowers appear in 6 to 8 inch upright clusters that last for about a month and attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Flowers are followed by 1 to 3 shiny brown seeds which are eaten by squirrels.The attractive palmate leaves usually fall by the end of September. It prefers partial shade in moist well-drained soil. It will tolerate full sun and grows in a variety of soil types. Use this tree in woodland or in a wildlife garden. The buckeye gets its name from the whitish scar found on each brown seed, giving it the appearance of a deer’s eye.
(Note: Photographed in early October, this red buckeye specimen had already dropped its leaves. We hope to capture a new photo of the tree in bloom this coming spring.)