How to Grow and Care for Bottlebrush Buckeye

Bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) is an award-winning summer-flowering shrub that grows great in shade, perfect for adding to your yard. It has a long bloom time, so you get to enjoy the showy, white, feathery panicles for weeks, and the foliage adds fall interest. This native southeastern North American buckeye species is perfect for attracting pollinators and makes for an excellent habitat in your wildlife garden. All you need for this easy-to-grow species is moist but well-draining soil.

All parts of the bottlebrush buckeye are toxic to humans, cats, dogs, and horses, so keep it away from curious kids and pets.

Bottlebrush Buckeye Care

Here are the main care requirements for growing bottlebrush buckeye:

• Placing in a full sun position is best, but a partial or full shade position is also acceptable.
• Plant in moist, well-drained, preferably acidic soil.
• Water deeply to keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy.

Light

Part of the appeal of the bottlebrush buckeye is its adaptability and shade tolerance. It does best in full sun but still does well in partial or even full shade spots, although form and bloom can be a bit more sporadic.

Soil

The bottlebrush buckeye isn't a fan of dry soils. This is especially true for young specimens whose root systems aren't well established. Provide your shrub with moist, well-drained soil to see it thrive. It prefers acidic soils, but this isn't a deal breaker. It will also thank you if you amend the soil with organic matter.

Water

While bottlebrush buckeye are known for being pretty adaptable, the one thing they need to produce prolific, healthy blooms is consistently moist but not soggy soil. They don't do well if the soil remains dry for prolonged periods. However, well-established shrubs can handle a little drought and dry soils better than a slow-to-establish young plant with an immature root system will.

Temperature and Humidity

Established bottlebrush buckeyes can tolerate temperatures as low as -4 degrees Fahrenheit. However, late spring frosts can be problematic for young plants whose delicate root systems are just getting established.

Fertilizer

Bottleneck buckeyes aren't heavy feeders, and if you amend your soil with rich organic matter in the spring, this is often enough to keep them happy. If you do want to fertilize, use a slow-release liquid fertilizer. While fertilizing in spring and fall should be sufficient for young specimens, a spring feed or none at all is best once your tree is well-established.

Pruning

Bottleneck buckeyes have a spreading form. While they typically grow to around 8 feet tall, they can grow outwards by twice as much. This is why these shrubs are so popular as privacy hedges and screens. You can control the spread with pruning, but it's best to allow plenty of room for this shrub. Its natural uniform shape looks best with minimal or no pruning.

Growing Bottlebrush Buckeye From Seed

Growing bottlebrush buckeyes from the collected seeds of your existing shrubs isn't too tricky. You might want to give this a go in the fall, especially because these plants aren't fans of being transplanted as adults. But you will need patience, as bottlebrush buckeyes can take about three years to flower from seed.

It's also worth noting that fewer seeds are produced on these shrubs when grown in northern regions where the growing season is shorter. Follow these steps to grow bottlebrush buckeye from seed:

1. Sow the seeds outdoors or in a deep container as soon as they drop from the plant in the fall. The seeds aren't viable if left to dry out too long, and seedlings quickly develop a taproot and don't like being disturbed.
2. If you do sow stored seeds, soak them for 24 hours and don't have overly high expectations. They are still less likely to germinate than freshly sown seeds.
3. If there is early frosts, protect the seedings from the cold with a cover.
4. Keep the well-draining medium consistently moist but not soggy until spring germination occurs.
   

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Buckeyes can be prone to foliage pests and diseases. Part of the bottlebrush buckeye's appeal is that this hardy native species is rarely bothered by them. However, on rare occasions, you might see leaf spot, canker, honey fungus, or coral spot.

How to Get Bottlebrush Buckeye to Bloom

The showy blooms on the bottlebrush buckeye are the star of the show when they appear during the summer months. Learn more about how to make the most of the long-blooming flowers.

Bloom Months

There is variability in the bloom time of bottlebrush buckeyes depending on your region's climate, but they are generally mid-summer bloomers. They usually bloom from mid-June and throughout July, but sometimes bloom all the way through to the end of September if conditions are right.

What Do Bottlebrush Buckeye Flowers Look and Smell Like?

Bottlebrush buckeyes get their name from the fact that their shape is almost bottlebrush-like. The name doesn't match with their bloom's spectacular appearance. The showy, small, tubular, creamy-white flowers have protruding pink stamens and grow in large, upright panicles that are around 8 to 18 inches long. The blooms have a light honey-like fragrance.

How to Encourage More Blooms

Consistent moisture is the key to seeing bountiful blooms on your bottlebrush buckeye. These plants aren't fans of dry conditions. That being said, be careful not to overwater. Soggy soils can lead to root rot. And, while this shrub can grow in full shade, a full sun position ensures the longest and most prolific bloom season.