Red Buckeye
Bower & Branch Trees and Plants
Aesculus pavia
Regular priceThis plant is not available at this time through Bower & Branch. We provide this plant profile for reference only.
See below for alternative selections for purchase and inspiration!
HUMMINGBIRD MAGNET WITH BRIGHT RED BLOOMS
FEATURES:
- In spring, bright red flowers appear arranged in upright, elongated panicles
- Blooms are an important source of nectar for hummingbirds and butterflies
- Deep green leaves cover the tree in spring and summer
- In the fall, the foliage turns a vibrant bronze before dropping for the winter
- Popular ornamental plant sometimes used for traditional medicine
- Low-maintenance; good tolerance to heat and drought once established
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Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 4-8
- Mature Height: 12-15' tall
- Mature Width: 12-15' wide
- Exposure: Full Sun/Part Shade
- Spacing: 12-15' apart
Why plant Red Buckeye?
Uncommon in landscapes and absolutely stunning in full bloom, Red Buckeye will take your breath away the first time you see it in flower. This small, shrubby tree decks itself out in vivacious red blossoms each spring and steals the show. The flowers’ appearance coincides perfectly with the return of the ruby-throated hummingbirds from Central America, and these avian acrobats waste no time in diving right in and enjoying the sweet nectar. Each year, you’ll look forward to relaxing on your deck or patio while you not only admire the ravishing Buckeye blossoms, but also smile at those perky birds, back for the season.
Red Buckeye is found in the wild from North Carolina to Florida and west to eastern Texas. Buckeyes get their name from the notion that the smooth tan and brown seeds look like the eyes of a deer. The seeds are toxic and they were used in the past by Native Americans to catch fish. When crushed and thrown into the water, the seeds would release their poisons, stunning the fish for easy harvest.
How to use Red Buckeye in the landscape?
In the forest, the Red Buckeye stands out not only at bloom-time, but earlier as well, when the foliage emerges. Buckeyes are the first native trees to leaf out in spring, and they do so with panache. Big, hand-shaped leaves burst forth from fat, shiny buds. The young leaves often have purple, pink, or coppery tones and they catch the soft spring light in magical ways. The sizzling red flowers appear a few weeks later. Plant this stunning tree near your patio so you can enjoy both the blooms and the hummingbirds that will visit!
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 4-8
How To Plant Red Buckeye
Red Buckeye, preferring cool, semi-shady sites with deep, moist soil in the wild, appreciates similar conditions in the landscape. Full sun is acceptable as long as the soil doesn’t get too dry. Dry soil will hasten a common Buckeye disease called leaf scorch and lead to premature leaf-drop, though even under the best of circumstances, this can occur and is no cause for alarm. Because of the toxicity of the seeds (as well as of the leaves and twigs), Red Buckeye should not be planted where livestock will graze or pets will nibble.
How To Water
Immediately after planting, you should water your new Red Buckeye deeply and thoroughly to saturate the root ball. From there, you should water every two to three days until fall. Buckeyes prefer a moist soil, to be sure to maintain a consistent watering schedule.
How To Fertilize
While regular fertilization is not always needed with the Red Buckeye, it is recommended to do so when planting. Mix the Bower & Branch Elements Starter Plant Food into the hole before placing the tree in. You should also mix it at the top of the root ball as you create the care bed. After that initial application, you should fertilize in spring for the next three years, just to be sure your tree receives all the nutrients it needs to become established.
How To Prune
Pruning your Red Buckeye should take place in late winter to early spring, as the tree is dormant and this will allow you to see the branching structure clearly. Remove any damaged or dead branching, as well as those that are crossing as they can cause future issues. Pruning should only be done when necessary as the Red Buckeye has an intriguing structure to it when allowed to grow as normal.
How Does Shipping Work?
Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our big trees, sizes XL and bigger, require expert delivery and care, that means our extra-large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care. We deliver your trees and plants directly to you. Ask Bower & Branch about planting services – we'd be happy to assist in installation.
*For Big trees and Shrubs, Size XL and bigger: Review our Seasonal Shipping Timelines and Policy here.
Your trees and plants are grown across the United States at various Bower & Branch Growers. Depending on your location, your plant orders may be shipped from various locations. Please expect orders with multiple items to be delivered over a number of days as a result. Orders made up of numerous items or selections will not arrive at your home on the same day.
Shipping Delays:
From time to time, Bower & Branch Growers may determine to delay order shipment based on various factors for plant health. Weather in your region, as well as, where your plants are grown, is always considered when shipping. Extreme weather conditions may delay some or all of your order. Bower & Branch allows our Growers to make final shipping decisions based solely to benefit your trees and plants’ health and success.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.
Our Guarantees
3-YEAR-TREE GUARANTEE:
Bower & Branch offers a Three-Year Tree Guarantee on all of our trees, sizes X-Large and up. Only the finest and the most experienced growers are awarded the opportunity to grow for Bower & Branch, so we offer the best guarantee available.
If your tree(s) should fail for any reason during the three-year guarantee period, you will receive an online gift card in the amount that you originally spent on the tree.* You can then use this online gift card for any Bower & Branch Purchase.
* Bower & Branch provides online gift cards in the amount of the original purchase price of the tree(s). The amount does not include any additional costs such as delivery, planting, tax, or any other products or services. Online gift cards can be applied towards any Bower & Branch purchase on BowerandBranch.com and have no expiration dates. Bower & Branch does not guarantee tree replacement or availability of any desired product at any time. Cash refunds are not offered. Bower & Branch requires that all original tags and receipts are present when a guarantee request is initiated. The Bower & Branch Three-Year Guarantee only applies to plant material that has been planted in the ground. Container plantings are NOT covered.
At Bower & Branch, we do our best to honor all guarantee fulfillment requests to ensure customer satisfaction. However, we reserve the right to refuse the request if the required guarantee steps were not satisfied. Bower & Branch also reserves the right to deny any guarantee fulfillment request that is made as a result of animal damage, problems with plant hardiness and zone issues, or acts of nature (snow storms, hurricanes, and similar).
Reach out to a Plant Whisperer with any questions:
- Email: plantwhisperers@bowerandbranch.com
- Phone: 866-873-3888
- Or via Online Chat