JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University
Family
Hippocastanaceae
Botanical Name
Aesculus indica
Plant Common Name
Indian Horsechestnut
General Description
Wavy-edged glossy green leaves, amazingly pretty pink and white flowers and orange-red fall foliage make Indian horse chestnut the rare plant collector's dream. A medium-sized, deciduous tree from the northwestern parts of the Himalayan Mountains, it is not adapted to high heat and humidity. The dark green, palmate (hand-like) leaves have seven leaflets, infrequently five or nine, each with wavy edges. New foliage in spring is bronze. By late spring, the branch tips develop very showy upright clustered spikes of white and pink flowers with yellow pollen, attracting bees for pollination. The fruits are smooth, green and golf ball sized. They contain smooth brown nuts which are not edible. In autumn, the foliage turns dark red or orange-red, eventually dropping to show off the smooth, platy, chocolate-gray bark that displays cracks and patterns as the tree ages.
The Indian horsechestnut needs an acidic or neutral moist soil with good drainage. It makes a particularly ornamental specimen tree. It prefers a cool, moderate climate. In North America, it is best suited to the climate of the Pacific Northwest, and elsewhere in cool-summer and mild winter climes (such as the British Isles and southeastern Australia). This species is rare in the trade and usually found only at specialty nurseries.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
4 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
7 - 9
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Plant Type
Tree
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
35'-50' / 10.7m - 15.2m
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Width
40'-50' / 12.2m - 15.2m
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Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
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Native To
Central Asia, India, China
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Loam
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Oval/Rounded
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall
