Aesculus glabra
Common name: 
Ohio Buckeye
Fetid Buckeye
Stinking Buckeye
Pronunciation: 
ES-ku-lus GLAH-bra
Family: 
Sapindaceae, Hippocastanaceae
Genus: 
Aesculus
Synonyms: 
Aesculus glabra var. glabra
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Broadleaf deciduous tree, 20-40 ft (6-12 m) tall, similar or greater spread, dense, rounded form.  Leaves opposite, palmately compound, usually 5 elliptic to obovate leaflets, each 7.5-15 cm long and 2.5-6 cm wide, acuminate tip (gradually concave sides tapering to a point), wedge-shaped base, finely serrate, medium to dark green, nearly glabrous at maturity; petioles 5-15 cm long.  Leaf color in autumn is usually yellow, but sometimes orange-red or reddish-brown.  Leaves have a disagreeable odor when crushed, hence the name Fetid or Stinking Buckeye.  Flowers yellow-green, 2.5 cm, 4 petaled, in terminal clusters (panicles), 10-18 cm long, appear with or after leaves.  Fruit light brown, 2.5-5 cm long, ovoid, with a prickly covering, containing 1-3 dark brown seeds, 2-4 cm diameter. 
  • Sun to light shade.  Best on moist, well-drained, slightly acid soil.
  • The seeds contain the glycoside aesculin, a saponin aescin, and possibly alkaloids, and are considered poisonous to humans and livestock although they are eaten by squirrels.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 4   Native range from Pennsylvania to Nebraska, Kansas and Alabama.
  • glabra: smooth, a reference to the leaves.
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