Aesculus parviflora - buckeye, bottlebrush

Height: 8’ to 12’
Spread: 8’ to 15’
Light Needs: sun to part shade (best with some shade in the south)
Water: medium
Flower color: white with red anthers
Bloom time: June to July

This large, deciduous shrub can spread slowly by root sprouts but maintains a tight cluster. Its leaves have an unusual look. They are palmately divided with 5 leaflets. Small white flowers are produced on foot-long spikes. The long stamens give the spike a bottlebrush look. The name "buckeye" refers to the large, shiny, brown seed with a pale, round spot. In the garden, this plant makes a striking specimen or grouping. The flowers attract hummingbirds and a variety of insect pollinators. Over thirty species of moth larvae are known to feed on this plant. Fresh seeds are poisonous for people but are eaten by squirrels. The plants have some resistance to deer.