Bottlebrush buckeye is a native shrub with feathery white flowers that attract butterflies .

An rare plant with farseeing seasonal interest , bottlebrush buckeye(Aesculus parviflora)is a southern U.S. aboriginal shrub . It attracts swallowtail butterflies with its sceptre of blank flowers that bloom in summer . It grows up to 12 foot tall , serve as a screen to separate the garden from undesirable survey during the growing season .

Bottlebrush buckeye is toxic to human and pets .

Bottlebrush buckeye

Credit:Robert Cardillo

Robert Cardillo

Where to Plant Bottlebrush Buckeye

Plant bottlebrush buckeye inUSDA Hardiness zona 4 - 8 . Select a locating with partial subtlety and well - debilitate grease .

Use it as an understory plant life in woodland gardens , as a specimen plant , or in a mixed border garden . This plant make structure in the garden and landscape . station it on the perimeter of repeated garden to create a gumption of natural enclosure and emphasize the plant within .

Another way to use this blossom shrub is at the edge of wooded areas or in shadowed area of the yard . space bottlebrush buckeye shrub in a shade garden , allow perennials and other short plants to uprise up to and around them .

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Credit: Kindra Clineff

How and When to Plant Bottlebrush Buckeye

Bottlebrush buckeye is well planted in fountain or fall to avoid hot and ironic summertime weather condition in your location . Dig a hole double as broad and with the same depth as the plant ’s nursery container . Set the plant in the hole and backfill with ground remove from the hole . Water it and weigh down on the soil to hit any air pockets . tally 1 to 3 inches of mulchto the planting area but not pertain the stem of the bush . cater supplementary piddle for the first year .

quad shrubs 8 feet aside for a solid border and 18 feet apart for a more spacious landscape pattern .

Bottlebrush Buckeye Care Tips

Light

Bottlebrush buckeye preferspartial shadeand will grow in full shade . In fond shade , it bring forth more flower .

Soil and Water

plant life in moist , well - drained soilamended withplenty of organic matter .   Bottlebrush Ohioan does not have particular pH requirements , it grows in more or less acidulous to somewhat alkaline stain ( pH 5.0 to 8.0 ) .

implement supplementary pee to the new flora the first year , being sure that ironic grime receives water . Bottlebrush buckeye is not drouth - tolerant . Lack of rainfall and ironical soil stimulate the shrub to droop and lose leaves . ward off this state of affairs by regular watering or relocate the plant life to a partial shade location .

Temperature and Humidity

Bottlebrush buckeye enjoys affectionate grow temperature and moderate - to - mellow humidness . It grow good in 50 to 80 ° F but tolerate a all-inclusive temperature compass . However , in temperatures in the downhearted twenty , the shrub suffer stale damage .

Fertilizer

Bottlebrush buckeye is n’t a heavy self-feeder and fertilization is unnecessary if the dirt is amended with ample constitutional matter at planting time . If not , a monthly app of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and bush fertilizer from outflow to fall will keep the bush grow and blooming .

Pruning

Prune the shrub only to remove spite limb to nullify damaging the plant ’s natural form . Remove spent blossom shuck only after flowering . Bottlebrush Aesculus hippocastanum blossom on old Grant Wood , so prune soon after flowering before raw bud shape .

Pests and Problems

Bottlebrush buckeye is comparatively disease tolerant , but it is susceptible topowdery mildew , foliage spotlight , and rust . found the shrub in full sun and well - draining soil limits these diseases . It attractsJapanese beetle .

How to Propagate Bottlebrush Buckeye

Propagate this flowering shrub by garner seeds or occupy deal cuttings .

seed : cum should be gathered as before long as the seed seedcase drop to the ground . Do n’t expect for them to dry out out ; dried seeded player are less potential to be viable . localize the seeds in a brown report bag in a warm , ironic billet for a couple of days , but contrive to sow the source within a calendar week of gather up them .

Sow the seeds in a 1 - gallon nursery pot filled withseed - start mixor potting grime . blank the seed 2–3 inches aside and cover them with 1–2 inches of planting medium . Water immediately . Put the pot in a sheltered surface area where you’re able to supervise it over the winter . The cum will germinate in full sun in the spring , Transplant the seedling into the landscape painting when it has gain size of it and a full-bodied antecedent system .

‘Gold Heart’ Bleeding Heart Dicentra spectabilis

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

cut : Take 12 - inchsoftwood stem cuttingsin former summertime . Remove all leafage except the very top and dip the cutting into rooting powder . sneak in the cutting into potting dirt , water well , and encompass with a clear moldable bag . Check regularly to see that the ground remains moist , and mist the cutting every span of twenty-four hours until new growth seem .

Types of Bottlebrush Buckeye

In addition to the species shrub , there is one cultivar of bottlebrush buckeye . Other plant life share the common name bottlebrush but they belong to theCallistemongenus , which is botanically not refer and in a unlike plant family thanAesculus .

‘Rogers’

Rogers bottlebrush buckeye ( Aesculus parvifloravar.serotina‘Rogers ’ ) differs from the straight mintage by growing enceinte — up to 20 groundwork — and flowering three week later . Another conflict is the distance of the panicles , 18 to 30 inches as opposed to the 12 inches on the species .

Bottlebrush Buckeye Companion Plants

Solomon’s Seal

Solomon ’s sealthrives in moist , copious , well - drained soil and shady areas , often under Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree — think of woodland orshade gardens . Cool , humid , and shady locations are secure . It grows to 6 feet tall and has green leafage that turn golden in autumn . Zone 3 - 9

Bleeding Heart

run heart(Dicentraspp . ) is a Hellenic cottage garden staple that turn in shade or part sunlight and is quick to pop up in spring . These small native industrial plant farm to only 12 inches tall and adjudge their pinkish or white prime above the foliation for a cheerful show . zona 3 - 9

Hosta

Blaine fosse

The manyvarieties of hostas(Hostaspp . ) are perfect additions to shade off garden setting . They come in all size , and some varieties have showy , fragrant flower , but these plants are roll in the hay in the first place for their spectacular foliation . zona 3 - 9

Frequently Asked Questions

Deer are not peculiarly attracted to this shrub . However , if they are hungry , they will browse this plant , so protect it when it is young .

When this bush blooms in summer , it is treat in showy , blank flower empale that resemble a wire nursing bottle coppice .

No , this plant is not considered aggressive or trespassing . Although it can grow up to 15 foundation broad , it is a sluggish growing bush .

close up of hosta leaves

Credit:Blaine Moats

Yes , they are draw and quarter to the fragrant flowers of this plant . Bees and butterflies also enjoy bottlebrush buckeye , so it ’s a great way to bring these pollinators to your garden .

" Aesculus parviflora . " North Caroline State University Cooperative Extension .