Aesculus x mutabilis hybrid painted buckeye

This buckeye is a garden hybrid between aesculus pavia and aesculus sylvatica, both from S.E. USA. It was described already in early 20th century but in Europe it is still little known since another, very similar tree has been popular here for decades = aesculus pavia “Koehnei”.

Hybrid painted buckeye produces attractive flowers in upright, conical panicles composed of salmon pink with some orange shades, tubular flowers which come out at the end of May. Typically chestnut leaves are deciduous, 5-7 palmate, with oblong to lance-shaped leaflets where each one may be up to 20 cm long, bronze when they emerge, turning mid green in summer. This hybrid does not set fruit.

It grows a little faster compared to “Koehnei” buckeye, still, it is considered a small tree suitable also for small gardens. It is usually available grafted on a short stem with a dense, rounded crown. It is not picky about soil type. Grow it in moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Hardy to about -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 05-08-2013