1. Scientific name
- The term "red horse chestnut" can be used for Aesculus × carnea, a hybrid between the common horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) and the California buckeye (Aesculus pavia).
- Aesculus × carnea is especially valued for its red or bright pink flowers and its ornamental silhouette.
2. Characteristics
- Height: Approximately 15 to 25 meters at maturity.
- Foliage: Large palmate leaves, dark green, sometimes slightly reddish in spring.
- Flowers: Spikes of red, bright pink to purple flowers, appearing in spring (May-June depending on climate).
- Fruits: Brown capsules containing seeds called "conkers," like the common horse chestnut, but these seeds are not edible.
3. Cultivation and care
- Exposure: Sun to partial shade.
- Soil: Prefers fresh, well-drained soils rich in humus.
- Resistance: Good resistance to cold and common horse chestnut diseases, but susceptible to the horse chestnut leaf miner in some regions.
4. Usage
- Mainly an ornamental tree in parks and large avenues.
- Appreciated for the red color of its flowers, which contrasts with the green foliage and the light color of the trunk.
