A medium-sized tree with showy yellow flowers in spring and large mahogany nuts in fall. Closely related to horse chestnut.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Aesculus flava, also known commonly as the common buckeye, the sweet buckeye, and the yellow buckeye, is a species of deciduous tree in the subfamily Hippocastanoideae of the family Sapindaceae. The species is native to the Ohio Valley and Appalachian Mountains of the Eastern United States. It grows in mesophytic forests or floodplains, generally in acidic to circumneutral soil, reaching a height of 20 to 48 m.
Source: Wikipedia — Aesculus flava Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Medium tree with palmately compound leaves (5 leaflets); brilliant yellow autumn color; large smooth tan-brown nuts.
Similar species. Ohio Buckeye (smaller leaves). Other Aesculus species.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. N/A — photosynthesis
Behavior. Native eastern tree with brilliant yellow autumn color.
§ Range
Appalachian region
§ Habitat
Rich moist forests
§ Threats
Forest loss, climate change.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the yellow buckeye is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Plant native buckeye. Support Appalachian forest conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Aesculus flava
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Aesculus flava
- iNaturalist · taxon 49162
- IUCN Red List — search for Aesculus flava
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Aesculus flava
§ Sources cited
- USDA Plants Database
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
