250 Trees for Shade and Ornament 



HORSE CHESTNUTS OR BUCKEYES 



JEsculus. Large, medium-sized and small trees and shrubs from the 

 United States and Asia, of well-appreciated ornamental value, with 

 rich, palmate foliage and attractive flowers. They are excellent shade 

 trees, requiring, however, rich soil for their best development. 



A. Hippocastanum Linn. (95), Horse Chestnut, from China, nearly 

 hardy to Ottawa, is the best known, the largest of the genus, and one 

 of the best shade trees. It is a tolerably raj)id grower of rather round- 

 ish or oval outline, regular, somewhat coarse, at first stiff, branch habit; 

 branches becoming pendent with the tips of branches peculiarly curved 

 upward, with heavy, luxuriant, deep green, flaccid foliage, becoming 

 golden bronzed in autumn, leafing early, but also browning and shed- 

 ding its foliage early (August). A profusion of stiff pyramids of white, 

 showy flowers (May) is a striking feature, but also adds to its unclean- 

 liness, which is most felt when the large nuts and burs fall in early 

 autumn. A "shot hole" fungus sometimes attacks the leaves, making 

 them unsightly with brown specks; it is also liable to sun-scald, but is 

 otherwise free from troubles. For wide avenues and public places it is 

 one of the best species; also good for lawns singly, being too formal 

 in habit to group well. 



A. Pavia Linn. (95) (rubra), Red Buckeye, a small tree native in the 

 South, but hardy northward, is commendable for its fine brick-red to 

 dark red flowers. There are several forms, varying in color of flowers, 

 and a dwarf with pendulous branches. * 



A. glabra Willd. (96), Ohio Buckeye and A. octandra (fava) Marsh. 

 (97), Sweet Buckeye, natives of the Southern States, deserve much more 

 attention than they have so far received. They are small to medium- 

 sized trees, lacking the showy flowers of the first two mentioned, having 

 pale yellowish-green ones, but a more elegant foliage, and smaller 

 fruit with less coarse burs, being therefore more cleanly. Hardy to 

 Ottawa, and there hardier than the horse chestnut. 



A. parviflora Walt. (98) {macrostachya). Dwarf Horse Chestnut. 

 ' A native of the Southern States, a large shrub (fifteen to twenty feet), 

 sometimes growing into tree form with a broad well-rounded head, is 

 a most desirable plant in its proper place, in the North hardy to semi- 

 hardy in sheltered positions. It is attractive in its dark, smooth, rich 

 foliage and peculiar long erect spikes of white flowers, appearing 

 during the scanty flower season (July). It suckers readily, spreadiiii^ 



