About this tree
Originally native to southeast Europe and Asia Minor, Aesculus hippocastanum, the horse chestnut, is a stately deciduous tree now widely planted across Europe. It reaches heights of up to 35 m and is instantly recognizable for its large, palmate leaves composed of 5 to 7 leaflets. In late spring, it produces tall, upright flower panicles with white petals and yellow-pink markings, which attract bees and other pollinators. These pyramids of blossom and the tree’s impressive stature have made it popular in parks and along streets. The dense crown provides ample nesting sites for birds, while the large leaves can fall prey to leaf miner moths, whose caterpillars cause chestnut leaves to appear prematurely brown and autumnal. Despite its vulnerability, the leaf pests do not threaten the survival of the tree. The tree is particularly drought sensitive, with early leaf browning used as an indicator of a dry year. By autumn, the tree produces large, spiky seed capsules (burs) containing two to three glossy brown seeds known as conkers. Although mildly toxic, these are collected for games and decorations, and have historically been shelled, mashed, and compressed to produce a sort of soap, or else used as fodder after leaching toxins. Unlike other chestnut species, horse chestnut timber is light and not durable, though occasionally used for carving.