Aesculus

The genus Horse chestnut (Aesculus) unites woody (less often - shrubby) deciduous species. One of their characteristic features is the large closed buds formed in winter, covered with slightly sticky scales. The opposite leaves are palmate, consisting of 5-7 leaflets, often large in size and with a serrated edge. Very decorative flowers are irregular, in erect large racemose inflorescences. The fruit is a spiky single-nest box with one large seed. The best - known and most widely distributed species is the common horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), a beautiful tree up to 30 m high with a compact broad - pyramidal low crown; the trunk diameter is up to 1.5 m. The bark is lamellar light brown in color. The leaves are large - their size can exceed 20 cm-with very long petioles. In May, white flowers bloom, collected in lush inflorescences up to 30 cm long. The flowers are 5-petaled, with pink (much less often yellow) spots inside the base and orange anthers. Everywhere it is used for landscaping parks, gardens, squares. The leaves of the yellow chestnut (A. flava) are smaller than those of the horse chestnut; the inflorescences are lush, bright yellow in color. By crossing the forest chestnut (A. sylvatica), a hybrid form of chestnut (Aesculus x neglecta) with pinkish-orange flowers was obtained. The leaves of the Indian chestnut (A. indica) are smaller than those of the common horse chestnut, the flowers are pinkish with yellow or red spots; they bloom later than the flowers of the horse chestnut. In July, small-flowered chestnut (A. parviflora), mainly a shrub, produces white flowers with pink stamens, collected in long paniculate inflorescences. Chestnut Pavia (A. pavia) - a shrub or tree with inflorescences about 15 cm long of bright red flowers. The flowering period is May-June. By crossing the common horse chestnut (A. hippocastanum) and the pavia chestnut (A. pavia), a hybrid of the red horse chestnut (A. hippocastanum x carnea) with pink flowers collected in panicles about 20 cm long was obtained.

The genus Horse chestnut (Aesculus) unites woody (less often - shrubby) deciduous species. One of their characteristic features is the large closed buds formed in winter, covered with slightly sticky scales. The opposite leaves are palmate, consisting of 5-7 leaflets, often large in size and with a serrated edge. Very decorative flowers are irregular, in erect large racemose inflorescences. The fruit is a spiky single-nest box with one large seed.

The best - known and most widely distributed species is the common horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), a beautiful tree up to 30 m high with a compact broad - pyramidal low crown; the trunk diameter is up to 1.5 m. The bark is lamellar light brown in color. The leaves are large - their size can exceed 20 cm-with very long petioles. In May, white flowers bloom, collected in lush inflorescences up to 30 cm long. The flowers are 5-petaled, with pink (much less often yellow) spots inside the base and orange anthers. Everywhere it is used for landscaping parks, gardens, squares.

The leaves of the yellow chestnut (A. flava) are smaller than those of the horse chestnut; the inflorescences are lush, bright yellow in color. By crossing the forest chestnut (A. sylvatica), a hybrid form of chestnut (Aesculus x neglecta) with pinkish-orange flowers was obtained.

The leaves of the Indian chestnut (A. indica) are smaller than those of the common horse chestnut, the flowers are pinkish with yellow or red spots; they bloom later than the flowers of the horse chestnut.

In July, small-flowered chestnut (A. parviflora), mainly a shrub, produces white flowers with pink stamens, collected in long paniculate inflorescences.

Chestnut Pavia (A. pavia) - a shrub or tree with inflorescences about 15 cm long of bright red flowers. The flowering period is May-June. By crossing the common horse chestnut (A. hippocastanum) and the pavia chestnut (A. pavia), a hybrid of the red horse chestnut (A. hippocastanum x carnea) with pink flowers collected in panicles about 20 cm long was obtained.

Cultivation

Horse chestnuts are planted from October to March in parks and gardens, where the decorative nature of their foliage and inflorescences is used. In cold climates, this operation is preferable to be performed in the autumn months, in mild climates - to postpone until spring. Plants are undemanding to the soil, but prefer light, fertile and well-drained.

Location

Open sun is best, although, especially at an early stage of cultivation, plants do well in partial shade.

Temperature

Chestnuts are not capricious and perfectly tolerate both high and low temperatures.

Watering

It is necessary only for young plants immediately after planting in the open ground.

Reproduction

Propagated by seeds, gives growth from the stump. Horse chestnut can be sown directly into the ground in early autumn or in boxes in a cool room. After germination, the seedlings are transplanted one at a time, and then transferred to larger containers for 2-3 years, after which they are finally planted. Hybrids, so that they retain their properties, are grafted in the spring.

Diseases

Especially dangerous is the fungus Guignardia aesculi: brown leathery spots appear on the leaves, often with a yellowish border, which leads to drying and falling of all the foliage, young plants can die. If the plant is still small, the fungus is removed by treating it with copper-based fungicides. The most dangerous pests for chestnut trees are worms. They affect various parts of the plant. In such cases, treatment with anticoccidal drugs is carried out.

Acquisition

Horse chestnuts are purchased in specialized gardening centers and nurseries. Choose small, strong and branched plants.