Plants of the Week - May 14th

This week, whole giving a ‘Yardening talk to a wonderful group of retired teachers (tried my best to use proper English), I noticed an absolutely beautiful red flowering tree across the park from where we were. And it was beautiful! So, what was I seeing? It was Aesculus x carnea ‘Briotti’, or commonly known as Ruby Red Horse Chestnut.A smaller hybrid tree with dark green (disease resistant) foliage topped with those bold spikes of ruby-red flowers.What a show! -Great for landscape and street tree plantings / sun to part shade / yellow fall color / can get 40’ high and wide / enjoys evenly moist soils if available / and yes, those spiney covered horse chestnuts will show up, but not as heavy as other selections. 

While we’re at it, I’ll toss in another selection similar but more in a large shrub form…Aesculus pavia or commonly known as Red Buckeye. Small tree or large shrub, with great dark foliage topped with those red spikes of flowers in mid spring. Great choice for the smaller landscape / garden – grows 15x15’ – sun to part shade – native – prefers evenly moist soils if available - and yes, has those wonderful buckeyes in the late summer.