Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra)
Identifying Features
Plant Family: Sapindaceae
Native Range: Eastern North America
Leaf: deciduous, opposite, palmately compound, 5 leaflets, leaflets finely toothed
Twig and Bud: twigs stout and yellowish-gray, end buds a pale orange-brown, keeled bud scales
Flower, Fruit and Seed: showy, yellow-green flower, fruiting structure consists of 1-2 nuts inside a leathery, spiny husk, ripe nuts are shiny and dark brown with a tan eye
Bark: gray, thick and scaly
Shape and Mature Height: mature height 20-40 feet when growing in the understory, taller when grown in the open
Garden Value and Considerations
Ohio buckeyes are understory trees. They prefer rich, moist, well-drained soil. For the best floral and nut production, plant in full to partial sun. However, Ohio buckeyes are susceptible to leaf scorch, leaf blotch and powdery mildew, so planting in partial to full shade will benefit the foliage health.
Ohio buckeyes are one of the first trees to leaf out in the spring and lose their leaves early in the fall. Showy yellow-green flowers emerge with the leaves and serve as an important nectar source for hummingbirds.
Notes
Native Americans called the buckeye nut “hetuck” meaning “eye of the buck”. The name was adopted to reference settlers in what would become the state of Ohio. Campaign symbols made from buckeye trees were used in William Henry Harrison’s 1840 presidential run. When Harrison became the first Ohio citizen to win the office, “Buckeyes” became a well-established nickname for Ohioans.
The flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds and several species of long-tongued bees such as bumblebees and mason bees. The leaves, bark and fruit of the buckeye tree are poisonous, and as such, are rarely eaten by wildlife.
