Aesculus pavia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aesculus pavia |
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Aesculus
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pavia
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The Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia) is a beautiful flowering plant. It can be a small tree or a large bush. This plant grows naturally in the southern and eastern United States. You can find it from Illinois down to Florida and from Texas over to Virginia. It's even grown successfully in colder places like Arboretum Mustila in Finland! People sometimes call it the "firecracker plant" because of its bright red flowers. Other names include scarlet buckeye and woolly buckeye.
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What Does the Red Buckeye Look Like?
This plant usually grows as a large bush or a small tree. It can reach a height of about 16 to 26 feet (5 to 8 meters). Often, it has several stems growing from the ground.
Its leaves grow in groups of five. Each leaf is shaped like an oval with jagged edges. They are about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) long.
In the spring, the red buckeye shows off its amazing flowers. They grow in long clusters, about 4 to 7 inches (10 to 18 centimeters) long. These flowers are a striking dark red and shaped like tubes. Each flower has both male and female parts.
By early fall, the plant produces smooth, light brown fruits. These fruits are about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) across.
Different Kinds of Red Buckeye
There are two main types, or varieties, of the red buckeye:
- Aesculus pavia var. pavia: This is the most common type with red flowers.
- Aesculus pavia var. flavescens: This type has yellow flowers.
The yellow-flowered variety is found in the higher parts of Texas. Sometimes, you can find plants that are a mix of these two types. They might have flowers that are an in-between color.
Why Are Red Buckeyes Important?
The bright red flowers are a favorite for hummingbirds. Bees also visit them.
The fruits of the red buckeye contain natural chemicals called saponins. These chemicals are poisonous to humans if eaten. However, they are not usually dangerous because they are hard to eat. The seeds are also poisonous. In the past, people could extract oils from the seeds to make soap, but this is not done for business today.
Red Buckeyes in Gardens
People like to plant red buckeyes in their gardens because they are so pretty. There are special types, called cultivars, that have been chosen for gardens. One example is a low-growing type called 'Humilis'.
The red buckeye can also mix with other trees to create new kinds of plants. For example, it has mixed with the common Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum). This new tree is called Aesculus × carnea, or red horse-chestnut. It's a medium-sized tree, growing about 45 to 55 feet (14 to 17 meters) tall. It has the red flowers from the red buckeye. This hybrid tree is very popular in large gardens and parks. A well-known type of this hybrid is called 'Briotii'.
Red buckeye has also mixed with the Yellow buckeye (Aesculus flava). These mixed plants are known as Aesculus × hybrida.
Images for kids
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A red flower stalk
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Growing habit
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Leaf cluster
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Maturing fruits
See also
In Spanish: Falso castaño de flor roja para niños
