California Buckeye Tree | Native White Blooming Tree

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California Horse Chestnut

Aesculus californica, Horse Chestnut

CA Native Drought Champion • Fragrant Spring “Candles” • Smooth Silver Bark

$69.00

Container sizeSize guide 5 Gallon 15 Gallon 24 Gallon

Plant Form Multi Standard

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Description

California Horse Chestnut is a majestic and iconic native tree that embodies the natural beauty and seasonal rhythm of the California landscape. Thriving with absolute neglect in our summer-dry climate, it offers a spectacular display of fragrant spring flowers, unique smooth bark, and golden fall color, making it an essential, low-water choice for authentic native gardens and oak woodlands.

A California native superstar, perfectly adapted to summer drought; it naturally goes dormant in late summer, requiring no summer water once established, which prevents disease.
Produces stunning, upright panicles of fragrant, creamy-white flowers in late spring that are a vital nectar source for native butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
Features exceptionally handsome, smooth, light gray to white bark that gleams in the winter sun, providing outstanding structural interest year-round.
Displays attractive palm-shaped leaves that emerge bright green and turn a clear, golden yellow in early fall before dropping.
Typically grows as a large, multi-trunked shrub or small tree with a broad, rounded canopy, ideal for a naturalistic focal point.

Quick Facts

Processed facts

Mature height: 15-30 ft.
Mature spread: 15-30 ft.
Light: Full sun to partial shade

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Features:Foliage: Palmately compound leaves with 5-7 lance-shaped, bright green leaflets with irregular, serrated margins. Foliage turns a clear yellow in early fall before dropping.Flowers: Showy, upright, 4-12 inch long clusters of fragrant, creamy-white to pale pink flowers in early summer, highly attractive to bees and other pollinators.Fruit: Produces a distinctive, large, pear-shaped, leathery capsule that splits to reveal 1-2 large, shiny, dark brown seeds (buckeyes).Bark & Habit: A deciduous large shrub or small tree with a broad, spreading, often multi-trunked habit and a rounded crown. The bark is smooth and pale silver-gray to white, providing striking winter interest.
Growth Rate: Moderate
Key Advantages:Spectacular spring floral display that is a valuable nectar source.Attractive, smooth, light-colored bark for winter interest.Drought tolerant once established.Important native plant for wildlife and habitat gardens
Landscape Uses:Specimen tree in native and water-wise landscapes.Focal point for its form, flowers, and bark.Large-scale erosion control on slopes

Faqs

Q: Is it true that all parts of the tree are poisonous?
A: Yes. The seeds, leaves, and young shoots contain a toxin harmful if ingested by humans or livestock. This is a key reason to plant it in native or naturalized areas rather than in gardens accessible to grazing pets. Its toxicity is part of its natural defense.

Q: Why does it lose its leaves so early (in summer)?
A: This is a brilliant native adaptation to drought. By going dormant in mid-to-late summer, it conserves water and survives our long dry season without irrigation. It is not a sign of poor health but of perfect adaptation.

Q: Can I water it in summer to keep it green?
A: It is strongly recommended NOT to water it in summer. Summer irrigation can lead to fatal fungal diseases (like Phytophthora) in our native, dry-adapted buckeyes. Embrace its natural cycle.

📍 Primary Delivery Area · San Francisco Bay Area

Local delivery across the Bay Area — and beyond.

San Francisco Bay Area is our primary local delivery market. Victory Nursery also serves additional California markets and selected extended delivery areas by arrangement.

Regular local delivery: San Francisco, Peninsula, South Bay, East Bay, Marin, Tracy / Mountain House and surrounding service areas.

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A good garden starts with the right size

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5 Gallon

A popular size for shrubs, screening plants and young trees. Large enough to make an immediate difference in the garden while still manageable for most residential projects.

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15 Gallon

One of the most common larger landscape sizes for trees and shrubs. It offers noticeable height and fullness while still being practical for many residential planting projects.

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24 Gallon

A heavy nursery size with immediate landscape presence. It can often be moved by one person with a nursery dolly or hand truck, but it is generally too heavy for normal hand carrying.

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Gallon describes the container size, not a guaranteed plant height. Individual plants vary. Contact our nursery for current measurements.

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