Aesculus x carnea 'Briotii'
Red Horsechestnut
Hippocastanaceae
ExpandHabitat
- a hybrid between A. pavia and A. hippocastanum
- probably originated as a chance hybrid made by insects, in 19th century Germany
- zone 4
Habitat and Form
- medium shade tree; deciduous
- broad-rounded crown
- 30' to 40' tall
- medium texture
Summer Foliage
- opposite, palmately-compound leaves, usually with 5 leaflets
- beautiful dark green, late into fall (October)
Autumn Foliage
- similar to A. hippocastanum; brown
Flowers
- blooms in late spring
- erect 5" to 8" clusters of pink to red flowers
Fruit
- capsule, 1-1.5" long, round
- husks light brown, prickly; seed glossy brown
Bark
- similar to A. hippocastanum; dark gray-brown, platy on old wood
Culture
- similar to other Aesculus
- more drought-tolerant than A. hippocastanum
Landscape Use
- specimen or shade tree
Liabilities
- leaf, twig and fruit litter can be a problem
- sunscald of trunks in colder parts of range
- less prone to leaf scorch, leaf blotch and mildew than A. hippocastanum
ID Features
- large, palmately compound leaves, smaller and darker green than A. hippocastanum
- large, resinous terminal bud not as sticky as that of A. hippocastanum
- smaller, more rounded habit than A. hippocastanum
Propagation
- some reports indicate that A. x carnea breeds true, some that it is nearly sterile
- usually propagated by grafting
Cultivars/Varieties
'Briotii' (Ruby Red Horsechestnut) - Slightly smaller than the species, with larger flower clusters and deeper red flower color. The most popular cultivar of this species, less susceptible to fungal disease than other Aesculus.
'O'Neill' - Rarely available, but purported to have flowers in foot-long panicles that are an even deeper red than 'Briotii'.
'Fort McNair' - Selected at the fort of the same name in Washington, D.C. Flowers are pink with a yellow throat.