Aesculus hippocastanum at Victoria Park

Aesculus hippocastanum 0

Aesculus hippocastanum
late September 2015

Aesculus hippocastanum 1

Aesculus hippocastanum
early February 2016

Aesculus hippocastanum 2

Aesculus hippocastanum
early May 2016

Aesculus hippocastanum 3

Aesculus hippocastanum
mid May 2016

Grid reference ST 15450 76933
Common name Horse chestnut
Origin Albania and Greece
Deciduous Yes
Height 24M February 2016
Girth 393cm February 2016
Reference 403

This tree is located by a path junction just north of the Ranger's Office.

Aesculus hippocastanum bark

Aesculus hippocastanum bark
February 2016

Aesculus hippocastanum leaf

Aesculus hippocastanum emerging leaves & flower
early April 2016

Aesculus hippocastanum foliage

Aesculus hippocastanum emerging leaves & flower
late April 2016

Aesculus hippocastanum leaf2

Aesculus hippocastanum leaves
mid May 2016

Aesculus hippocastanum flower2

Aesculus hippocastanum flower
mid May 2016

Aesculus hippocastanum fruit

Aesculus hippocastanum fruit
late May 2016

General tree description

Aesculus hippocastanum is a large tree, growing up to 39 metres, with a domed crown. Its bark is smooth and pink-grey in young trees, becoming browner and coarser when mature. The leaves unfold early and are palmately compound, with five to seven stalkless leaflets, jaggedly-toothed. Each leaflet is 13 to 30cm long, making the whole leaf up to 60cm across. The flowers are exceptionally attractive, appearing in spring and early summer in white candles 10 to 30cm tall, with a yellow spot that turns red. After pollination they are followed by fruits, which mature in autumn to conkers in green, spiny husks. Each conker is 2 to 4cm diameter, glossy nut-brown with a whitish scar at the base.