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Florida 4-H Forest Ecology

Florida 4-H Forest Ecology

Red Buckeye

Aesculus pavia
Family: Sapindaceae

Natural History

buckeye-full
Leaves and inflorescence of red buckeye | Photo credit: Niels Proctor, University of Florida

Red buckeye is a shrub or small understory tree that may reach 20-30 feet in height. It is characterized by opposite, palmately-compound leaves and attractive, upright clusters of dark red flowers.

The plant is most noticeable in early to mid-spring , when the leaves are emerging and the flowers are blooming. There is no significant fall color, and the leaves generally fall off early - before the arrival of cold weather.