Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia), is a small deciduous tree or shrub native to the southern and eastern parts of the United States, found from Illinois to Virginia in the north and from Texas to Florida in the south.

It has a number of local names, such as scarlet buckeye, woolly buckeye and firecracker plant.

A red flower stalk

There are two varieties:

• Aesculus pavia var. pavia: typical Red Buckeye.
• Aesculus pavia var. flavescens: yellow-flowered Red Buckeye.

The yellow-flowered variety, var. flavescens, is found in higher country in Texas, and hybrids with intermediate flower color occur.

The flowers are attractive to hummingbirds as well as bees. The fruits are rich in saponins, which are poisonous to humans, though not particularly dangerous because they are not easily ingested. The oils can be extracted to make soap, though this is not commercially viable.

Ornamental cultivars such as the low-growing 'Humilis' have been selected for garden use.

Red Buckeye has hybridised with Common Horse-chestnut (A. hippocastanum) in cultivation, the hybrid being named Red Horse-chestnut Aesculus × carnea. The hybrid is a medium-size tree to 20-25 m tall, intermediate between the parent species in most respects, but inheriting the red flower color from A. pavia. It is a popular tree in large gardens and parks, most commonly the selected cultivar 'Briotii'. Hybrids of Red Buckeye with Yellow Buckeye (A. flava) have also been found, and named Aesculus × hybrida.

External links

• USDA plant profile for Red Buckeye
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• ''Aesculus pavia'' images at bioimages.vanderbilt.edu

de:Rote Rosskastanie es:Aesculus pavia fr:Pavier rouge sv:Amerikansk hästkastanj

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