Other Names:  European Horsechestnut

Description:

A rigidly upright selection valued for its panicles of showy white flowers that rise above the leaves in spring and narrow growth habit which is ideal for smaller landscapes; seeds may be a little messy

Ornamental Features

Columnar Horse Chestnut features bold spikes of white flowers with brick red centers rising above the foliage in mid spring. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The palmate leaves turn yellow in fall.

Landscape Attributes

Columnar Horse Chestnut is a dense deciduous tree with a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

This is a high maintenance tree that will require regular care and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Messy
• Disease

Columnar Horse Chestnut is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade
• Vertical Accent

Planting & Growing

Columnar Horse Chestnut will grow to be about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.