Pacific Horticulture Society | California Buckeye: A Tree for All Seasons California Buckeye: A Tree for All Seasons More From This Author A California buckeye in full bloom. Photographs by Phil Van Soelen Think of any image of California’s natural beauty, and there’s almost certainly a tree in it. It might be a coast redwood, giant sequoia, valley oak, or Monterey cypress. In fact, California may be over-endowed with emblematic trees that evoke some portion of this large and diverse state. There is the coast live oak, Santa Lucia fir, incense cedar, California nutmeg, bay laurel, and the weeping Brewer spruce. The pines alone reflect much of the state’s geographic diversity: Monterey, knobcone, sugar, Torrey, foothill, ponderosa, foxtail, pinyon, or bristlecone—to name only a few. Just the sight of them would cause many to heave a sigh of fond remembrance of places lived, loved, and enjoyed. Close-up of a single inflorescence of California buckeye California buckeye (Aesculus californica) recalls the foothills, valley margins, oak savannah and forest, and chaparral openings.

It is not as massive or showy as some of the aforementioned trees, nor do you find many parks devoted specifically to its splendor, yet it is much loved. It is a true California endemic, not occurring elsewhere in the world! A tree of subtle elegance and evocative presence, it is lovely alone but is usually found in drifts or thickets filling winter-cool swales or rippling across rolling hillsides and bursting out of deep and craggy canyons. Expanding buckeye buds in late winter A Plant Out of Synch? The California buckeye is a plant to enjoy throughout the year, although it may sometimes seem like the tree is unclear on which month it actually is. Leaping ahead by at least a season, the buckeye is actually finely tuned to California’s versions of a mediterranean climate. Why wait until April to leaf out when water is more likely to be available in February? Why hold onto your green leaves until October when it gets really parched in June? The sequence of seasonal delights begins not long after the first fall rains. In the cool damp shadows, the glossy mahogany-colored seeds that litter the ground under their mother-tree begin to come to life.

A large creamy finger-like projection creeps out of the seed and curves downward to impale the earth, in a way that might suggest the erotic. After penetrating the damp earth a secondary furl of growth occurs where the “finger” meets the soil. It produces a glossy rose pink or red stem, topped with tiny chartreuse green, fingered-foliage; this is the infant tree. A sentimentalist may see this energetic nursery of incipient trees as a sign of re-growth, regeneration, and revival. But the harsh reality is that most will not survive long, especially as conditions and competition heat up in late spring. A surprising number of seedlings may germinate as albino- or golden-foliaged, all or in part, but these never survive in the wild. Winter Delight All this regenerative rustling in the underbrush is visually remarkable and life affirming, but it is really the winter branch display that shines. The silvery branches are especially dramatic when catching the winter light—bold simple branches sweeping up and out, so even the largest trees can resemble enormous shrubs from a distance. And it seems as if no two are exactly the same!

Often those layers of branches will be encrusted with multicolored lichens, sometimes clothed in cascades of soft mosses, or hosting colonies of polypody fern (Polypodium spp.). The winter branch display may be the sparkle, but the often irregular, gnarled and lumpy, multi-branched trunk provides the substance. Young trees may not be exceptional in this feature, but old buckeyes are worthy of veneration. Their stocky bases, often with branches crossing and fused together in odd patterns, are one-of-a-kind works of art. Some are reminiscent of the fanciful water-worn stones found in Chinese gardens, others of some woodcarver’s fantasy on prancing pachyderms. Buckeye seed sprouting An Early Spring Almost as if to dispel the winter’s gloom and chilly dampness, the buckeye heralds the approaching spring long before any other tree, with its soft yellow green shoots of new foliage and stems bursting out of large, green, bronze-tinged bracts. The new leaves expand into a hand-like umbrella of leaflets.

And if you thought the silvery bare branches of winter were lovely, those same branches tipped with little tufts of lime-green foliage are even more enchanting. Whether in sun or swirling mists, or even sprinkled with snow, this is the plant for those of us addicted to season-denial. Can’t wait for spring? Plant a buckeye; it can’t wait either. For the first two months of leaf, the tree is still quite open to the light and is typically a chartreuse-green color that compliments the rapidly greening grasses and forbs. As the season progresses, the leaves age to a deep mat green, which then contrasts handsomely with the tawny tones of the nearby ripening vegetation. To signal a transition into summer, the trees shoot out long conical trusses of lightly fragrant, frilly white, azalea-like flowers. This happens rather suddenly; while the clusters are forming, they initially appear almost like branch-tip extensions. But as these projecting spikes open their dozens of buds, the tree becomes an exuberant mass of floral fireworks.

The majority of trees have spikes that point upward and outward, more or less extending the direction of the branch, but occasional trees have flower clusters that curve downward, some dramatically so, giving the appearance of a floral waterfall. If you bother to look closely, each flower is delightfully detailed: primarily white, usually with a darker “eye,” and often flushed with pale pink or yellow. A few trees have flowers with a pinkish cast, most of the color coming from the eye or the much deeper colored flower buds, which are sometimes rose pink. The massed flowers also produce long projecting filaments with orange stamens that, from a distance, give each cluster an outer haze of soft color, much like a bottlebrush. Most of the flowers in each cluster are male and, thus, incapable of producing seeds; only two or three at the tip are fertile and will produce the actual buckeyes. While in flower, the trees will be alive with masses of bees and other insects partaking of this floral feast.

Late summer’s dry leaves and ripening fruits Summer Dormancy Just as the trees finish flowering (sometimes before, especially in dry areas or dry seasons), the foliage will begin to show “autumnal” tints of soft yellow and tan, and the leaves begin to fall or wither. This can take a while, frequently all summer; a lot depends on where the plant is growing, on the air temperatures, wind, and underground water reserves. Although some leaves will drop, most remain hanging on the tree. Some buckeye trees may have all dried leaves, some will have green leaves near the branch tips and dried below, others will be almost all green or green with yellow highlights. Buckeyes often grow in association with poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), whose leaves turn yellow, pink, or scarlet in early summer. Areas where the two grow together may appear like an autumn woodland, yet the summer is only beginning. Summer is the buckeye’s least appreciated season. Someone unfamiliar with California’s dry season may wonder why all the buckeyes seem to be dying.

But those crispy pendant leaves, varying from honey to graham cracker color, are seldom of concern to long time residents, as they become just part of the seasonal transition, their colors as much a part of the landscape as the dried grasses. Rather than a distraction, the foliage dries out in subdued harmony with the summer dry season, a natural manifestation of the baking heat. In this dry-leaf state, the California buckeye provides a pleasant contrast to other still-green trees nearby. In a large natural landscape, buckeyes are just one element and the summer dried leaves, a visual detail. In a garden, the fastidious gardener may find this tardily deciduous quality to be an endless clean-up chore. Thus, the buckeye lends itself to a more casual gardening style, especially one where a natural leaf litter is valued. Bare silvery stems sparkle in early winter By late summer and fall, the trees again catch everyone’s attention as the branch tips droop with clusters of what look like large leathery pears. The sun begins to slant and the shadows spread—perfect for highlighting the branching and fruit. Soon the husks split open and those remarkable glossy seeds cover the ground again.

Though thoroughly inedible (unless leached of their toxins, as the Native Californians did), there is something irresistible about this seed, looking as if it had been carved, lacquered, and polished; few can resist picking up one or more, often pocketing them to be brought home for a show-and-tell with family or friends. And then the rains come, and the year-long cycle begins anew. What We’re All About Pacific Horticulture believes in the power of gardens to enrich life and inspire environmental stewardship. California Buckeye Plant Guide | Californica Plant Information | Garden Guides Submit The California Buckeye (Californica) is generally described as a perennial tree or shrub. This is native to the U.S. (United States) has its most active growth period in the spring and summer . The greatest bloom is usually observed in the summer, with fruit and seed production starting in the summer and continuing until fall. Leaves are not retained year to year. The California Buckeye (Californica) has a long life span relative to most other plant species and a moderate growth rate.

At maturity, the typical California Buckeye (Californica) will reach up to 40 feet high, with a maximum height at 20 years of 30 feet. The California Buckeye (Californica) is usually not commercially available except under contract. It can be propagated by bare root, container, seed. It has a slow ability to spread through seed production and the seedlings have high vigor. Note that cold stratification is not required for seed germination and the plant cannot survive exposure to temperatures below 2°F. has high tolerance to drought and restricted water conditions. Uses of : Landscaping, Medicinal, Culinary, etc. Ethnobotanic: This tree had multiple cultural uses among California Indian tribes. Many indigenous groups utilized buckeye seeds for food, often when other plant food sources were scarce. These tribes included the Costanoan, Salinan, Kitanemuk, Serrano, Wappo, Sierra Miwok, Coast Miwok, Chumash, Kawaiisu, Northern Maidu among others. The Pomo ate the seeds even when other important food plants were plentiful. The seeds are poisonous to humans in the raw state.

Thus, the nuts were cracked open with a rock, the shells removed, the seeds pounded into flour, and their toxic saponins removed in a lengthy leaching process. The meal was subsequently cooked and eaten. There are many different methods for processing and cooking buckeye seeds for food, depending upon the tribe. The seeds have medicinal properties and were cut into pieces, mixed with water, and made into suppositories for hemorrhoids by the Costanoan and Kawaiisu. The Pomo cut bark from the base of the tree and made a poultice, which was laid on a snakebite. Young buckeye shoots were sometimes used as spindles or twirling sticks in fire-making kits of the Sierra Miwok, Northern Maidu, Wappo, Yahi and other tribes. Many tribes mashed buckeye nuts and poured the contents into quiet pools to stupefy or kill fish. Wildlife: Do not plant buckeyes near apiaries as the flowers are poisonous to honey bees. No wildlife eat buckeye seeds except squirrels, such as the California ground squirrel (Citellus beecheyi). General Characteristics General: Buckeye Family (Hippocastanaceae).

This native, deciduous shrub or tree reaches 12 m in height with a broad, rounded crown. The palmately compound leaves occur in leaflets of 5 to 7 and each leaflet is oblong-lanceolate and finely serrate. The inflorescence has many showy flowers in a panicle-like arrangement and it is erect, 1-2 dm. in length. Each individual flower has 4-5 petals and these are white to pale rose with 5-7 exserted stamens. The fruit is pear-shaped and smooth. The large, shiny light-brown seeds are 2-5 cm. Required Growing Conditions For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site. Cultivation and Care Adaptation: The California buckeye is one of the first shrubs to leaf out in spring and one of the earliest to shed its leaves in mid-summer. It is found on dry slopes, canyons and the borders of streams in many plant communities below 1700 m. in northwestern and central western California, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada foothills, Tehachapi Mountains, Great Central Valley, and southwestern Mohave Desert.

General: Harvest the large seeds from the tree or shrub about November. Plant them in the ground immediately--half buried in an area of full sun or light shade. There is a light spot on the seed, which is the growing point when being formed. The radicle will sprout from this area so make sure that this spot is covered with soil. Plant the seeds in a well-drained soil. Water the soil immediately after planting, and if there is not enough rain during the rainy season, supplement it with hand watering. The plants will also need some summer watering the first year so a good rule to follow is to keep the soil damp. The tree is a fast grower and can achieve as much as ten inches in height in one year. After buckeye seeds have been in the ground one full year, they should become established, and will not need continual care. General Upkeep and Control What is Buckeye in the Garden? What is Buckeye in the Garden? What is Buckeye in the Garden? Howard Rice/Photolibrary/Getty Images By Vanessa Richins Myers Updated December 29, 2016.

If you asked someone "What is a buckeye?", you could get a wide variety of responses depending on where they live and what they're interested in. Possibilities include: Several trees and shrubs in the genus Aesculus A genus of butterflies (Junonia) A resident of Ohio (which is the Buckeye state and claims the Ohio buckeye [Aesculus glabra] tree as its State Tree) Brutus Buckeye is the mascot of Ohio State University A candy made to look like a buckeye nut ( Buckeye recipe ) A chicken breed that was developed in Ohio Several different cities in the United States The Navy and Marine Corps use a jet trainer called the T-2C Buckeye One quilt pattern is the Buckeye Beauty A tomato problem is buckeye rot ...and the list goes on. Since this is the Trees and Shrubs website, the question is best answered by focusing on the Aesculus genus for this article. What is a Buckeye Tree or Shrub? Members of the genus Aesculus may be called either buckeyes or horse chestnuts depending on the area they come from. continue reading below our video 3 Items to Make Your Home More Modern Horse chestnuts are from Europe and Asia.

Buckeyes are from North America. The buckeyes are: Chinese horse chestnut (Aesculus chinensis) Common horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) East Himalayan horse chestnut (Aesculus assamica) Indian horse chestnut (Aesculus indica) Japanese horse chestnut (Aesculus turbinata) Red horse chestnut (Aesculus x carnea) These trees and shrubs feature opposite branching (the Horse in the mnemonic MADCap Horse, which is meant to help you remember which types of plants have this feature, refers to the Horse chestnut genus). This feature only appears in a few kinds of trees and shrubs so this can definitely help you identify these plants. Depending on the species, there will be 5 - 9 leaflets found on each of on the palmately compound leaves. The flowers are tubular in shape and grow in an upright, large, loose pyramidal cluster called a panicle. They can be white, red or yellow. Although horse chestnut has the word "nut" in its name, the fruit produced is actually a capsule. The appearance will vary by species, with some having spines and warts while others are smooth.

They are not edible and should not be confused with the true chestnuts, which are in the ​Castanea genus. In fact, they are poisonous and thought should be taken in selecting if you have young children or pets around. The name for horse chestnut trees and fruits in the United Kingdom is "conkers" . Children there use the fruits to play a game by the same name. What is a California Buckeye? (with picture) What is a California Buckeye? Written By: Misty Amber Brighton Edited By: Michelle Arevalo Last Modified Date: 11 January 2017 Copyright Protected: These 10 facts about space will blow your mind A California buckeye, sometimes called a California horse chestnut, is a small tree that produces a toxic nut known as a buckeye. It is a deciduous shrub that is, as its name implies, native to California. It has a light-colored flower and dark green foliage. It is often used as an ornamental plant or for controlling erosion. This tree typically grows to between 1.22 and 3.66 feet (4 to 12 m) high, with a spread that is roughly the same size.

It is usually very round and bush-like in appearance. The foliage may begin close to the ground, or it may only be located near the top of this ornamental plant. The leaves of a California buckeye are usually medium or dark green and very shiny. They are somewhat oval-shaped with a tapered point at the end. The edges are slightly serrated, or saw-toothed, in appearance. It generally grows in star-shaped clusters of five to seven leaflets. This tree is among the first to drop its leaves, with the first ones usually falling in mid-summer each year. There are normally white or very light pink flowers that appear in spring. These blooms are located on a tall spike that is around 5 to 7 inches (about 15 to 20 cm) long. They are usually between 1 and 3 inches (about 5 to 8 cm) wide. These blossoms often have a very sweet fragrance to them that might attract butterflies. The California buckeye tree may have more than one trunk. It is usually covered in dark gray bark. There may also be moss or lichens — an algae -type plant — on its surface.

The flowers develop into a round nut that is usually dark brown or reddish-brown in color. This is typically between 1 and 3 inches (about 5 to 8 cm) long. It contains a brown or orange seed that usually measures from .79 to .197 inches (2 to 5 cm) in length. This seed is poisonous if ingested, so it should be kept away from animals and small children. This ornamental tree does not normally choke out smaller plants in a backyard garden, so it can be a good choice for a home landscape. The California buckeye also grows well in forested areas alongside live oak , digger pine, and black oak trees. No matter where it is planted, this hardy shrub is likely to thrive for a number of years with only minimal needs. Ad Aesculus californica Introductory SPECIES: Aesculus californica AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION : Howard, Janet L. 1992. Aesculus californica. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: [ ].

ABBREVIATION : AESCAL SYNONYMS : Calothyrsus californica SCS PLANT CODE : AECA COMMON NAMES : California buckeye buckeye horsechestnut TAXONOMY : The currently accepted scientific name of California buckeye is Aesculus californica (Spach) Nutt. [ 18 , 21 ]. There are no recognized subspecies, varieties, or forms. LIFE FORM : Tree, Shrub FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS : No special status OTHER STATUS : NO-ENTRY DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE SPECIES: Aesculus californica GENERAL DISTRIBUTION : California buckeye is endemic to California. It occurs in the Klamath and Coast Ranges from Siskiyou County south to Los Angeles County. In the Cascade Range and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, it occurs from Shasta County south to Kern County. California buckeye is occasionally found in the Central Valley in Yolo, Colusa, and Stanislaus Counties [ 5 ].

ECOSYSTEMS : FRES20 Douglas-fir FRES21 Ponderosa pine FRES27 Redwood FRES28 Western hardwoods FRES34 Chaparral - mountain shrub STATES : CA BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS : 3 Southern Pacific Border 4 Sierra Mountains 7 Lower Basin and Range KUCHLER PLANT ASSOCIATIONS : K003 Silver fir - Douglas-fir forest K005 Mixed conifer forest K006 Redwood forest K009 Pine - cypress forest K010 Ponderosa shrub forest K029 California mixed evergreen forest K030 California oakwoods K033 Chaparral K034 Montane chaparral SAF COVER TYPES : 229 Pacific Douglas-fir 231 Port-Orford-cedar 232 Redwood 234 Douglas-fir - tanoak - Pacific madrone 243 Sierra Nevada mixed conifer 244 Pacific ponderosa pine - Douglas-fir 245 Pacific ponderosa pine 246 California black oak 247 Jeffrey pine 248 Knobcone pine 249 Canyon live

 oak 250 Blue oak - Digger pine 255 California coast live oak SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES : NO-ENTRY HABITAT TYPES AND PLANT COMMUNITIES : California buckeye woodland is recognized as a distinct plant community [ 13 ].

The species may also codominate oak (Quercus spp.) woodland. Interior live oak (Q. wislizenii) and blue oak (Q. douglasii) are the most common codominants of oak woodland [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 22 , 23 ]. In chaparral, it is sometimes a dominant shrub or tree [ 2 , 4 ]. The following published classification schemes list California buckeye as a climax species or a dominant part of the vegetation in community types (cts) or plant associations (pas): Area Classification Authority CA: Coast Ranges mixed oak cts Allen & others 1991 w foothills Sierra Nevada foothill woodland pas Thorne 1976 Klamath Mts. northern mixed Holland 1986 chaparral pas Pinnacles National Monument Ca buckeye woodland cts Halverson & Clark 1986 MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS SPECIES: Aesculus californica WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : California buckeye is occasionally used for lumber and paper pulp [ 25 ]. IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : California buckeye is toxic to all classes of livestock and wildlife.

The bark, leaves, stems, fruits, and seeds all contain glycosidal compounds which cause haemolytic action on red blood cells and depress the central nervous system when ingested. This species has been implicated in inducing abortion in cattle [ 5 , 18 ]. PALATABILITY : Despite its toxicity, California buckeye flowers, leaves, and shoots are palatable to livestock and wildlife. Hedrick [ 14 ] has listed it among the 20 chaparral browse plants most preferred by cattle and black-tailed deer. The palatability of the seeds for black-tailed deer, rodents, and Steller's jay is fair to poor [ 5 ]. NUTRITIONAL VALUE : The dry matter composition of California buckeye seeds is 80 percent carbohydrate, 5 percent protein, 1 percent fat, 2 percent ash, 3 percent fiber, and 9 percent miscellaneous [ 12 ]. Protein content of the leaves and stems varies from 31 percent in April to 5 percent in October [ 6 ]. Carbohydrate content of leaves and stems varies from 50 percent in April to 1 percent in October [ 20 ].

Since California buckeye is a systemic poison, how much of this nutrition is actually metabolized by seed-eating or browsing livestock and wildlife in unknown. (see Importance to Livestock and Wildlife). COVER VALUE : The cover value of California buckeye is poor from late spring through late winter due to early leaf fall. VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : California buckeye is valuable as a soil binder on stream or river banks and on steep slopes [ 11 , 17 , 26 ]. Seed can be obtained by harvesting native plants. Seed propagation methods have been detailed [ 20 , 24 ]. OTHER USES AND VALUES : California buckeye is used as a landscaping ornamental [ 24 ]. The seeds of California buckeye served as a staple for California Indians, who would mash the roasted seeds and then leach them to remove the poison [ 5 ]. Native Americans also secured the seeds in streams and other waterways in order to stupefy fish for easy capture [ 21 ]. OTHER MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : Grazing: California buckeye often considered undesirable on rangeland because of its toxicity.

Apian considerations: Honeybees are the chief pollinators of California buckeye, but the pollen and nectar are toxic to them [ 5 , 9 , 14 ]. Losses of adult honeybees and their larvae due to poisoning can be severe [ 9 ]. Human beings have been poisoned by eating honey made from California buckeye [ 18 ]. Control treatments: California buckeye is susceptible to spray or injection/cut surface treatments of phenoxy herbicides and picloram [ 7 , 14 , 27 ]. Hand or mechanical brush control is ineffective unless the root crown is removed [ 25 , 28 ]. BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS SPECIES: Aesculus californica GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : California buckeye is a large shrub or tree up to 23 feet (7 m) tall. The 2-to 6-inch-long (5-15 cm) leaves are deciduous and palmately compound [ 21 ]. Flowers are borne on a terminal panicle 4 to 8 inches (10-20 cm) long.

The pear-shaped, light brown fruit contains one to six glossy brown seeds 0.8 to 1.2 inches (2-3 cm) in diameter [ 5 , 21 ]. RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : Phanerophyte REGENERATION PROCESSES : Sexual: California buckeye reproduces by seed [ 5 ]. The average tree produces approximately 100 seeds per year. Seed dispersal is poor and is accomplished mainly by gravity or water; dispersal by animals is rare [ 13 ]. Seeds are viable for only 1 year and are shed from November to mid-February [ 24 ]. Germination occurs within several weeks of shedding if the soil temperature is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees C). If the temperature persists below 40 degrees for 2 months or more the seeds are susceptible to fungal infections or desiccation [ 12 ]. Germination success rates of 75 percent have been reported under laboratory conditions [ 19 ]. Asexual: California buckeye can sprout from the stump or root crown [ 3 , 28 ].

SITE CHARACTERISTICS : California buckeye grows on dry slopes, in canyons, and along waterways [ 5 , 21 ]. In the Central Valley it occurs along stream and river banks [ 5 , 19 ]. It is associated with poison-oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) in most communities in which it occurs [ 5 , 17 ]. Soil: California buckeye grows in sandy, sandy-loam, or gravelly-loam soils [ 5 ]. Climate: California buckeye occurs in a Mediterranean climate with cool moist winters and hot dry summers [ 5 , 15 , 18 ]. The mean annual rainfall is less than 14 inches, and temperatures are in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees C) for several successive days every summer [ 14 ]. Elevation: California buckeye occurs below 4,000 feet (1,219 m) [ 21 ]. SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : California buckeye exhibits both tolerant and intolerant characteristics. It occurs as widely scattered individuals in open grasslands. It also occurs as an understory shrub in mixed evergreen forest [ 3 ].

It is a climax indicator in chaparral and mixed oak communities [ 1 ] and in California buckeye woodlands [ 8 ]. SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : California buckeye flowers from April to September [ 24 ]. New leaves emerge from March to June while soil moisture is abundant [ 20 ]. The leaves dry up and are shed in late spring or early summer in Sierra Nevada foothill populations but may be retained through fall in coastal populations when soil moisture remains available [ 5 ]. Fruits ripen from September to October and are dropped from November to December [ 24 ]. FIRE ECOLOGY SPECIES: Aesculus californica FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS : Plant adaptations: California buckeye sprouts from the root crown after top-kill by fire [ 5 , 28 ]. Seeds would probably not survive fire because they are highly susceptible to desiccation by heat [ 8 ]. Seed is often transported by water and could be carried to a burn site in that manner [ 13 ]. Fire ecology: Early leaf fall results in accumulation of dry litter around the plant early in the fire season.

FIRE REGIMES : Find fire regime information for the plant communities in which this species may occur by entering the species name in the FEIS home page under "Find Fire Regimes". POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY : survivor species; on-site surviving root crown off-site colonizer; seed carried by water; postfire yr 1 & 2 secondary colonizer; off-site seed carried to site after year 2 FIRE EFFECTS SPECIES: Aesculus californica IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : Fire top-kills California buckeye [ 25 ]. DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : NO-ENTRY PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : Information regarding California buckeye's response to fire is limited. Sampson [ 25 ] has said that sprouting chaparral brush species, including California buckeye, recover rapidly following a fire, sending out new shoots during the first growing season. Growth in subsequent seasons is also rapid, with the plant sometimes exceeding its prefire mass within a few years. Sprouting can occur within a few weeks following fire, even in the summer months. Growth is supported by drawing on food and water reserves in the fully developed root system [ 20 ].

DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : See this Fire Study in FEIS for further information on responses of California buckeye and other chaparral and woodland species to fire: Damage and recovery in southern Sierra Nevada foothill oak woodland after a severe ground fire (blue oak-interior live oak/annual grass community) FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : Grazing considerations: California buckeye cannot be successfully eliminated by occasional prescribed burning. Fire may control it if the area is reburned every 7 to 8 years and immediately reseeded with herbaceous vegetation [ 14 ]. Otherwise, California buckeye will recover at the expense of other plants species, including desiable herbs [ 14 , 25 ]. REFERENCES SPECIES: Aesculus californica REFERENCES : 1 . Allen, Barbara H.; Holzman, Barbara A.; Evett, Rand R. 1991. A classification system for California's hardwood rangelands. Hilgardia. 59(2): 1-45. [17371] 2 . Baker, Gail A.; Rundel, Philip W.; Parsons, David J. 1981.

Ecological relationships of Quercus douglasii (Fagaceae) in the foothill zone of Sequoia National Park, California. Madrono. 28(1): 1-12. [6477] 3 . Baker, G. A.; Rundel, P. W.; Parsons, D. J. 1982. Comparative phenology and growth in three chaparral shrubs. Botanical Gazette. 143(1): 94-100. [6533] 4 . Barbour, Michael G. 1987. Community ecology and distribution of California hardwood forests and woodlands. In: Plumb, Timothy R.; Pillsbury, Norman H., technical coordinators. Proceedings of the symposium on multiple-use management of California's hardwood resources; 1986 November 12-14; San Luis Obispo, CA. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-100. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station: 18-25. [5356] 5 .

Holmer, L.; Nitare, L.; Stenlid, J. 1994. Population structure and decay pattern of Phellinus tremulae in Populus tremula as determined by somatic incompatibility. Canadian Journal of Botany. 72: 1391-1396. [24510] 6 . Bissell, Harold D.; Strong, Helen. 1955. The crude protein variations in the browse diet of California deer. California Fish and Game. 41(2): 145-155. [10524] 7 . Bovey, Rodney W. 1977. Response of selected woody plants in the United States to herbicides. Agric. Handb. 493. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. 101 p. [8899] 8 . Buckman, Robert E. 1964. Effects of prescribed burning on hazel in Minnesota. Ecology. 45(3): 626-629. [12204] 9 . Clark, Harold W.

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[3864] 13 . Halvorson, William L.; Clark, Ronilee A. 1989. Vegetation and floristics of Pinnacles National Monument. Tech. Rep. No. 34. Davis, CA: University of California at Davis, Institute of Ecology, Cooperative National Park Resources Study Unit. 113 p. [11883] 14 . Hedrick, Donald W. 1951. Studies on the succession and manipulation of chamise brushlands in California. College Station, TX: Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College. 113 p. Dissertation. [8525] 15 . Holland, Robert F. 1986. Preliminary descriptions of the terrestrial natural communities of California. Sacramento, CA: California Department of Fish and Game. 156 p. [12756] 16 . Holmes, Tyson H. 1990. Botanical trends in northern California oak woodland. Rangelands. 12(1): 3-7. [10939] 17 .

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Tallahassee, FL: Tall Timbers Research Station: 355-373. [1496] 34 . Raunkiaer, C. 1934. The life forms of plants and statistical plant geography. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 632 p. [2843] 35 . U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. 1982. National list of scientific plant names. Vol. 1. List of plant names. SCS-TP-159. Washington, DC. 416 p. [11573] California Buckeye | Aesculus californica california buckeye (Aesculus californica) leaf california buckeye (Aesculus californica) leaf underside california buckeye (Aesculus californica) budding california buckeye (Aesculus californica) flower california buckeye (Aesculus californica) flower 2 california buckeye (Aesculus californica) buds spring california buckeye (Aesculus californica) trunk / stem description: The California buckeye originally comes from California and the southwest of Oregon.

The tree is often multi-stemmed. Tree profile Aesculus californica - California buckeye - UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County The Bisexual California Buckeye – sinner or survivalist? By Sue Ridgeway SCMG A June 2012 article in the Huffington Post announced, in a bold, attention grabbing headline, “Ohio Man Demands State Revoke 'Bisexual' Buckeye's Status As State Tree.” “Ohio's Jim Flechtner is demanding that the Aesculus glabra, better known as the Ohio Buckeye be revoked of state tree status because it bears male, female and bisexual flowers on the same tree.” Fletchner, who originally submitted the letter to the editor of the “The Courier,” a newspaper in Northwestern Ohio, is said to be known for his satirical pieces. So, we can only hope he was joking this time too. However, Mr.

Fletcher is correct – the 13 to 19 species (and hybrids) of Aesculus, a widespread genus of the Hippocastanaceae (horse chestnut), a subfamily of Sapindaceae, are valued for their fragrant, showy, ornamental flowers – some of which are bisexual. Aesculus are distributed throughout Northern temperate climates – they are called common horse chestnuts in Europe, and buckeyes in North America. Their seeds, developing in round, fig, or pear shaped leathery capsules, are said to bear a striking resemblance, in color and shape, to the “eye of the buck.” The only buckeye native to California is Aesculus californica, or California buckeye. It is found growing below 4,000 feet throughout California and Southern Oregon. It can grow as much as 10 inches a year, as either a large, multi-trunked shrub (found in Northern climes), or a small tree (30 plus feet high) in the Southern regions. Aesculus californica is summer deciduous, sometimes defoliating in early July, and it is the first tree leafing out each year.

It grows during the wet winter and spring months when its neighbors are dormant, and enters dormancy in mid to late summer. In cooler coastal climates, the leaves may last through mid-autumn. Have you ever asked yourself: “What are those bright green trees with spectacular, erect clusters of white flowers” or, “it’s only July, what are all those dead and dying trees with pears on them?” In almost poetic abandon – Glenn Keator, Ph.D., field botanist, and an author well know for conveying the awesome diversity and beauty of California's native plants, answers: “Here is a fine plant for seasonal interest: silvery gray bark that’s shown to advantage from fall through winter; fanlike, palmately compound, apple-green leaves in spring and early summer; tight candles of white to palest pink, sweetly fragrant flowers in May or June; and curious, leathery, pear like seed pods with glossy brown seeds like chestnuts in fall.” California buckeye is appreciated in the landscape as a native, water-wise, ornamental.

It can be planted to provide shade, pruned as a hedge, grown in containers, or used as a companion tree for color and contrast with live oaks; however, you don’t want to roast buckeye chestnuts on an open fire, at least, not if you intend to eat them. Aesculus californica nuts closely resemble the Christmas holiday icon, roasted sweet chestnuts (Castanea sativa - European sweet chestnut). They are not the same; the fruits of horse chestnut and buckeye are unpleasant tasting and toxic. Apparently, only ground squirrels find them palatable. Although safe to handle, the large seeds contain glucoside aesculin – a toxic compound similar to those found in rat poisons. Most cases of aesculin poisoning occur when people roast and eat the nuts. Although rarely fatal, consuming large amounts of aesculin can result in “lack of coordination, twitching, restlessness, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness and occasionally paralysis and unconsciousness or worse.” It’s not just the fruit that contains the toxins – the leaves and shoots are poisonous to livestock, and the flowers can also be very unpleasant – especially if you are an Asian/European honey bee.

Aesculus californica, bearing a profusion of pollinator attracting, erect, white, fragrant inflorescences (flower spikes) up to eight inches long, is polygamo-monoecious; a tree with both unisexual and bisexual flowers on the same tree. Because they have all four characteristics of a flower: sepals, petals, stamen and pistil, bisexual flowers are referred to as “complete” or “perfect” flowers. All the sweetly fragrant flowers of this tree provide a rich pollen and nectar source for native bees, hummingbirds and many species of butterflies, but apiaries of honey bees should never be placed near abundant stands of California buckeye. Even though the honey produced from buckeye is not poisonous to humans, Aesculus californica pollen is hazardous to honey bees, none of which are native to California. The term “buckeyed-bees” is used to describe bees that hatch with deformed, crippled wings or malformed legs and bodies.

California buckeye is a species superbly adapted for survival: with growth habits designed to circumvent the drought conditions of its habitat, with a highly effective reproductive strategy, with leaves and shoots protected from grazing animals by noxious, toxic compounds, with prolific flowers attracting multiple native pollinators, and with viable seeds too poisonous to be consumed.

Question: What is a Californian Buckeye ?
Answer: A TREE