Aesculus parviflora, Bottle Brush Buckeye

I'm wondering if I should move my newly planted Aesculus parviflora. I really don't want to though (I'm tired and lazy). I wanted it to grow large for a backdrop to an island perennial bed. I planted a small one that has lost it's leaves yet it does have leave bud points on the end of the three stems. It's in full sun, west/east exposure in zone 8a. Does anyone grow this plant in full sun?

I don't have that species, but we have A. californica out here and it does fine in full sun. It loses its leaves very early in the year--usually by September it's looking really ratty and by this time of year the leaves are totally gone even though the other deciduous trees around here are barely starting to drop their leaves. I'm not sure if the other buckeye species behave that way or not.

Thank you, that helps alot. I saw pictures of it in plantfiles from someone who has it growing in Ky. It looked to me their plant was in full sun. I think I'll just leave it where it is and see how it does for at least one full year.

Mine is in part shade and it hasn't grown but an inch a year since I planted it. I haven't been very impressed by it. I planted mine in part shade because that's the way they occur in nature, and I figured it would be scorched in full sun. Like most buckeyes, I think they like lots of organic matter in the soil, which we don't have here. I think I may work some compost into the soil next time.


This message was edited Oct 25, 2007 1:27 PM

I could plant a shade tree close by just to give it some filtered or partial shade.

OK, guess it must just be the California version! That's actually one of the main reasons I don't grow it, it's beautiful when it's in bloom, but then in late summer or early fall its leaves dry up and fall off, if you don't know better you would think it was dying because it seems way too early for leaves to be falling.

The leaves on mine fell early too. I just thought it was transplant shock since it had just recently been planted. Next year will tell the tale.

Red buckeye (A.pavia) is the worst, they're leafless by early September.

I would love to have one though. Glad to know they shed early. When I get one I'll be sure to put it in an inconspicuous place. I want it near my dogwood trees to show off it's red flowers in spring. Maybe my pine trees can help hide it's bare trunk in the early fall.

Er...Caroledawg, doesn't bottlebrush buckeye have *white* flowers? It's Aesculus pavia that has the red.

My Bottlebrush Buckeye should be the one with the white flowers, Aesculus parviflora...
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2606/
I would love to have a Red Buckeye, Aesculus pavia, the red blooming tree form. It's a very similar species to the white bottlebrush. That red one is pretty too and is another one I want to plant next year. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1336/