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Resources < Wildlife Habitats < Native Plants < Native Plant Database < Aesculus parviflora
What perfect timing it is that bottlebrush buckeye’s tall white nectar-rich flower spikes should appear just as young ruby throats are leaving the nest. But hummingbirds aren’t the only ones that flock to these flowers; on a warm, sunny summer day, male and female tiger swallowtails can be observed feeding on the blooms in great numbers. Squirrels and chipmunks may not care much for the flowers, but they’re crazy about the oily, protein-rich nuts that ripen in fall.
Bottlebrush buckeye thrives in light shade, but it also does well in full sun as long as it is well mulched and plenty of moisture is provided. In heavy shade the summer blooms will probably be a little scantier, but the bright yellow fall color will not be diminished. This huge, eye-catching plant makes a great focal point in the garden, so be sure to give it a position of prominence and plenty of room to fill out. Ideal planting spots include the curve of a path or driveway or the edge of a lawn.
Hippocastanaceae (Horse Chestnut Family)
Large deciduous shrub with 3 to 8", dark green, palmately compound leaves composed of 5 to 7 leaflets. 8 to 12" white flower spikes appear in summer, followed by smooth, light brown buckeyes in fall. Fall leaf color is yellow.
8 to 12’ high and wide; may be much wider than high.
Wide-spreading, mounding, suckering shrub.
Slow on old wood, but new shoots can grow 2 to 4’ in one year.
Full shade to full sun. Light, dappled shade is ideal.
Transplant in early spring into rich, moist, well-drained, acidic to alkaline soils. This is a big bush, so be sure to give it plenty of room to spread out.
Assets include showy white bottlebrush-like flowers in June and July, large handsome leaves, and brilliant yellow fall color.
Grow as a specimen shrub or in masses.
Flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Squirrels and other small mammals eat the seeds.
Found on bluffs, riverbanks, and wooded hillsides in the Coastal Plain and lower Piedmont.
Cold stratified seed.
Written by Leslie Kimel, Georgia Wildlife Federation
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Bottlebrush Buckeye
