Fauna
Plant

Bottlebrush Buckeye

Aesculus parviflora

Also known as Small-Flowered Buckeye, Bottlebrush

Bottlebrush buckeye spreads via vigorous underground suckers to form massive, multi-stemmed colonies in shaded forest understories. In midsummer, it sends up spectacular cylindrical spikes of feathery white blossoms with protruding pinkish-red stamens that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. By autumn, the palmate foliage turns buttery yellow, dropping to expose smooth, pear-shaped seed capsules containing glossy brown nuts.

DeciduousFloweringUnderstory
Bottlebrush Buckeye reference1 / 7
(c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Soil nutrients
Predators
  • White-tailed Deer
  • Buckeye Leaf Pit Gall Mite
  • Japanese Beetle
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, logging, and invasive understory plants
HabitatsMesic deciduous forests, bluffs, riverbanks, and shaded ravines
Life span50–100 years
Classification
  1. OrderSapindales
  2. FamilySapindaceae
  3. GenusAesculus
  4. SpeciesAesculus parviflora
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Seeds and leaves contain toxic saponins; never ingest any part and keep away from pets.
Why it is dangerous
Contains toxic saponins, notably aescin, and aesculin glycosides that cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and muscle weakness if ingested.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognizable by palmately compound leaves with 5 to 7 leaflets and erect, bottle-brush-like white flower spikes up to 30 cm long.
What to do
Admire the flowers and foliage visually; never consume the nuts and prevent pets or livestock from browsing the twigs or fallen seeds.
Responsible observation
  • Flowering Season: Look for showy upright white flower spikes from late June through July.
  • Colony Growth: Notice how low branches root upon touching soil to form wide thickets.
  • Pet Safety: Keep dogs away from fallen buckeye nuts, which cause severe toxicity.
Related species
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