Aesculus pavia

Description

A deciduous small tree with showy, erect 4-10"" long panicles of orange-red and narrow tubular flowers that appear in spring. Palmately compound, shiny, dark green leaves are attractive in spring and summer. Smooth, light brown, globular seed capsules encase 1-3 shiny seeds (buckeyes) that ripen in the fall. A native of the southeastern U.S. where it typically occurs in low rich wooded valleys, at bluff bases and along streams.