Saturday, May 04, 2013

Aesculus parviflora

Aesculus parviflora
We have grown Aesculus parviflora  (the bottlebrush buckeye) for a few years, and it really is a fabulous plant for all seasons. 

Unlike other Aesculus it is a much more modest sized plant growing to a maximum of between 3 and 5 metres, although it wont be allowed to reach that size in our garden. Its a native from 
southeastern United States found growing in fairly open woodlands. So is ideally suited to be used as an understory shrub.

Once in leaf it resembles the traditional leaf form expected from Aesculus, and although not tropical nor exotic also passes a reasonable resemblance to the schefflera family. It blooms in the mid summer, although we have only had a couple of fairly small flowers 

Aesculus parviflora

In spring when the young leaves are growing is probably the most exciting time for me with this plant, heaven! Unlike many of the more exotic plants in our garden this is quite an old introduction  being introduced to British horticulture by John Fraser a well known botanist following a trip to the American South in 1785.

Aesculus parviflora

By the summer the large palmate leaves give a lovely exotic effect before autumn arrives and you get the final display of the year.

Aesculus parviflora

This shrub is well worth looking out for especially if you don't have the space for a large Aesculus or want the effect of a Schefflera with a hardier plant.

Gaz

15 comments :

  1. Some lovely color changes on this plant. It is very cool looking as it is opening it's leaves in the Spring.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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    1. Indeed Cher, love the changes it undergoes as it leafs out in the spring!

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  2. That IS a beautiful plant - and one with which I am unfamiliar, so thank you for introducing it to me! Does it suffer with the leaf miner affecting horse chestnuts?

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    1. Hiya, we're not aware that is, not sure to be honest. I have yet to see a specimen of it that's affected though.

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  3. Thanks for this closer look at the Aesculus, I'm intrigued. I've never seen one at a local nursery though.

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    1. Hopefully there will be some available in a nursery near you soon :)

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  4. Interesting post, as I recently discovered that more native Aesculus grows in my state (Alabama) than anywhere else in the world! And I don't have a single one. I must correct that!

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    1. It's relatively small growing too, more manageable and perhaps better for most gardens.

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  5. What an interesting plant. I like your idea of using this instead of a schefflera for colder areas.

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    1. It makes for a great Schefflera substitute for colder locations

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  6. I'll need to get a picture of the grove of these in the parking lot at work. We have about 5 or 6 mature ones planted together, it's simply breath taking when in flower or full leaf. It has an almost magical feel to it somehow. That might just be the plant nerd in me though...

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    1. That'll be lovely Tom, looking forward to seeing it!

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  7. Fantastic suggestion: exotic looks, forgiving ways...what's not to like?

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  8. What a yummy plant! One of the few downsides to having inherited lots of nice mature shrubs is the lack of space for new ones, and you are very good at making me regret this!

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