California Buckeye Aesculus californica
Buckeye is a small tree 12 to as much a 35 feet tall. Leaves are palmately compound and occur in sets of five. Buckeye has a distinct erect panicle (bottle-shaped) of flowers 5-8 inches long by 2-3 inches wide. The flowers are white to light pink and have a sweet scent. The distinctive pear-shaped fruit bares a large light brown nut that is often found on the ground beneath the trees. Buckeye can be found among the mixed hardwoods and in chaparral habitats. It looses it leaves very early in summer as a strategy for water conservation.
Buckeye leaves are in sets of five.
The dark green foliage with a palmate (leaflets radiating from one point) leaves make the buckeye easy to recognize in spring and early summer.
Buckeye tree trucks split and twist in many diretions.
The flowers are a distinct erect panicle 5-8 inches long by 2-3 inches wide. The flowers are white to light pink and have a sweet scent.
Flowers will cover the tree and become an important nectar source for many insects.
Fruit of the buckeye tree.
Fruit capsules fresh off the tree. They range in size from 1-3/4 to 2-1/2 inches.
As the capsules dry and thin they open to reveal the rich dark orange-brown seed with a cream colored eye— thus the buckeye name.