Aesculus glabra Willd.

A tree which grows to 20 m high. The trunk can be 50 cm across. The bark is grey but becomes brown with age. It becomes rough and scaly with plates. The twigs, bark, flowers and leaves all produce a bad smell if crushed. The leaves have 5-7 leaflets on a central stalk. The leaflets are 6-15 cm long. They taper to a point. They have uneven teeth. They are yellowish-green on the upper surface and are paler and hairy underneath. They turn orange-yellow in autumn. The leaf scars are horse shoe shaped. There are 3 vein scars. The flowers are 15-35 mm long and bell shaped. They have 4 yellowish-green petals. The fruit are 25-50 mm long and light brownish-green. They are covered with blunt spines. There are 1-3 seeds. These are 20-35 mm wide.

It is a temperate plant. It grows naturally in moist places in South-eastern and Central North America. It does best in a deep loamy well drained soil. It does best in cool, moist places like river valley bottoms. It is frost resistant but sensitive to drought. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.

CAUTION: This plant contains saponins which although poisonous are not normally easily absorbed by the body. It is nevertheless probably no wise to eat large quantities. The seeds are eaten cooked. Before eating they are slowly roasted then crushed and washed for 2-5 days in running water. They are then dried and ground into a powder.

Trees can be grown from seed. Fresh seed which has not been allowed to dry out should be used. Seed germinates quickly. Trees transplant fairly easily.