Red Horse Chestnut identification
The Red Horse Chestnut Aesculus x carnea is a hybrid between the Red Buckeye and the Horse Chestnut. It was introduced to Britain before 1818, after being discovered in Germany. It has been planted widely in Britain in parks, gardens and streets. Its crumpled leaves, red flowers and generally smaller size distinguish it from the Horse Chestnut. It is not long-lived. The Red Horse Chestnut is not related to the Sweet Chestnut, which is in a completely different botanical family.
Red Horse Chestnut identification – leaves with 5 to 7 crumpled leaflets, flower a red candle, fruit husk with only a few spines, small conkers, sticky buds
Tree in April.
The leaf is palmate, with 5 to 7 leaflets, like the Horse Chestnut but the leaflets have a crumpled, untidy appearance.
The red flowers are arranged on a panicle like the Horse Chestnut. The colour is inherited from the Red Buckeye. Photo taken at the end of April.
The bark is smooth when the tree is young but then scaly in old age.
The fruit is a capsule like the Horse Chestnut but the husk has fewer spines. Photo taken near the end of October.
Close-up showing a nut within the husk
Spineless husks and small seeds are characteristics of the Red Horse Chestnut.
The bud is green-brown with red bud scale edges and it is sticky. The bud has a characteristic leaf scar (which looks like a horseshoe) below the bud.