Aesculus parviflora Walt. The dark green, relatively boring leaves mounded over an oval habit, giving way to coarse, lanky stalks in winter with dried flower stalks atop don't help much. They come to know the plant as a diminutive member of the horsechestnut family with opposite palmately compound leaves and large buds bearing waxy white residue which unfortunately reminds them of bird droppings.
Late summer is a time of reckoning, however.
Large, upright feathery plumes borne atop the rich, dark green color appreciated by so many gardeners are compelling arguments, strong enough to convince even the most skeptical. But if that weren't enough, the uniformity of the broad-rounded habit, lending itself to tremendous mass plantings and its ability to thrive in sun or shade remove any last shreds of doubt. Easy to identify, the palmately compound leaves are composed of 5, or occasionally up to 7, leaflets which in combination produce an umbrella-like effect. The leaflets are 3 to 8 inches in length with short petiolules, obovate to oblong in shape and with finely round-toothed margins. The leaves are dark green above and have rounded-cuneate bases and acuminate apices.