Aesculus carnea

Aesculus carnea, also known as the red horse-chestnut, is a hybrid plant in the family Sapindaceae. It is a cross between Aesculus pavia (red buckeye) and Aesculus hippocastanum (horse-chestnut). The hybrid was first noted in the late 18th century in Germany.

Description

Aesculus carnea is a large deciduous tree that can grow up to 20-30 meters in height. The leaves are palmately compound with five leaflets and are dark green on the top and lighter underneath. The flowers are red to pink, appearing in spring in erect panicles 10–20 cm tall with about 20–50 flowers on each panicle.

Cultivation and uses

Aesculus carnea is widely cultivated in parks and large gardens for its showy flowers. It is more resistant to the leaf miner moth (Cameraria ohridella) than the common horse-chestnut, and for this reason it has been planted as a replacement for the horse-chestnut in many areas.

Propagation

Propagation of Aesculus carnea is usually by grafting onto rootstock of either Aesculus hippocastanum or Aesculus pavia. Seed propagation is also possible, but the resulting trees may not come true to the parent type.

Pests and diseases

Aesculus carnea is susceptible to a number of pests and diseases, including the horse-chestnut leaf miner, horse-chestnut scale (Pulvinaria regalis), and various fungal diseases such as Guignardia aesculi, which causes leaf blotch, and Phytophthora spp., which can cause root rot.

See also

• List of Aesculus species
• Horticulture