Aesculus californica

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

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Aesculus californica is a large deciduous shrub or small tree, up to 4–12 m (13–39 ft) tall, with gray bark often coated with lichens and mosses. It is used as an ornamental plant for its striking leaf buds, lime green foliage, fragrant white flowers, red-brown foliage in mid to late summer, and architectural silver branches through fall. The tree also acts as a soil binder, which prevents erosion in hilly regions.

The seeds are poisonous. The nectar and pollen of the flowers is toxic to honeybees, so the trees should not be planted near apiaries.

Similar plants:

• Aesculus flava (Yellow Buckeye)
• Aesculus parviflora (Bottlebrush Buckeye, Small-flowered Buckeye)
• Aesculus x carnea (Red Horsechestnut)
• Aesculus_sp (Buckeye, Horse Chestnut, Horse-chestnut)