Large red-brown sticky buds
Distinctive leaves, with five or more long leaflets
Clusters of white flowers
(not pink/ red – that’s a different species)
Big brown conkers burst from a green spiky fruit
(Smooth cases tend to be the pink/red flowered species)
A stout tree up to 30 metres tall
Has a huge domed canopy
Leaves turn from orange to scarlet in autumn
Grey-brown, fairly flakey bark
Where found
- Common in parks, gardens, streets and village greens.
- It was introduced from Turkey in the late 16th century and widely planted here
Scientific name
Aesculus hippocastanum
When to look for
- Leaves from April
- Flowers in May
- Leaves drop late October
- Falling ripe fruit from September to October