Plant Min Zone: 5a
Plant Max Zone: 9b
Sunlight: Part Sun, Shade
Water / Rainfall: Average, High
Soil Quality: Rich
Bloom Season: Early Summer, Summer
Flower Color: White
Berry / Fruit Color: Brown-Beige
Spring Foliage Color: Green
Summer Foliage Color: Green
Fall Foliage Color: Yellow
Evergreen Foliage: No
Winter Interest: No
Scented Flowers: No
Drought Tolerance: Low
Wet-Feet Tolerance: Medium
Humidity Tolerance: High
Wind Tolerance: Low, Medium
Poor Soil Tolerance: No Extreme Soils
Height: 6' - 10'
Width: 5' - 8'
Growth Rate: Slow, Medium
Service Life: Extremely long: over 20 years
Maintenance Need: Low
Spreading Potential: Medium
Yearly Trimming Tips: Trim Shrub to Desired Size After Bloom in Late Spring or Summer: Blooms on Old Wood.
Plant Grouping Size: Specimen Planting of 1-3, Small Grouping of 3-5, Medium Grouping of 5-10
Best Side of House: East Exposure, North Exposure
Extreme Planting Locations: Base of Retaining Wall Locations
Ornamental Features: Emerges Early in Spring, Multiple Seasons of Interest, Long Blooming Season, Large Tropical Foliage / Flowers
Special Landscape Uses: Naturalizing
Possible Pest Problems: Foliage Disease
Plant Limitations: Aggressive Rhizomes / Runners, May be Poisonous, Needs Regular Irrigation
This species (Aesculus parviflora) grows as a large suckering deciduous shrub in evenly moist, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. The species is native to the southeastern United States, where it is found primarily in Alabama and Georgia but is hardy much further North to zone 5. Useful in Kansas landscapes in rich established forest areas or along stream banks with plenty of room. Tends to thrive in rich forest soils of Eastern Kansas just fine without irrigation but is not known to tolerate moderate to drought. Bottlebrush buckeye features large palmate green leaves and tall cylindrical panicles (to 12" long) of tubular white flowers with conspicuous red anthers and pinkish filaments. Mid-summer bloom will not go unnoticed!