Q. My red-flowered buckeye has big fat chestnut-type seeds. Is it possible to grow more buckeyes from these and how do it do it?
A. Your decorative tree is a wonderful addition to any garden. It has, as you say, brilliant scarlet flowers and the tree produces large beige fruit that contains shiny mahogany brown seeds. But alert! The fruits of Aesculus pavia, your red buckeye, and all parts of the tree are toxic to humans. You should wear gloves when gathering the fruit and never mistake the seeds for chestnuts; despite the resemblance, these seeds are toxic.
The tree has attractive palmate leaves and a rounded growth habit. The red flowers are beneficial for hummingbirds, and bees and squirrels eat the nuts. Red buckeye will grow to an average height of from 10 to 30 feet and they produce showy red flowers in any sunny location. They do require water in late summer or they may drop their leaves early.
Red buckeyes are easy to grow from the brown seeds. Collect them as they burst ripely from the beige pods (wear gloves) and get several one-gallon nursery pots filled to within three or four inches to the top with a light, porous soil. Place one seed in each pot with fast-draining soil. Temperatures should be above 65 degrees during the day or put the pot in a warm spot. Moisten the soil. Place the seeds on top of the moist soil with the "eye," that light beige spot, pointing sideways. Don't bother with damaged seeds, or with fungus or wounds. Put three inches of light soil over the seed and keep the soil moist.
Your potted seeds will germinate within about three weeks. Place the pots in a semi-shaded location so the soil doesn't dry out quickly. After seedlings appear, cut back on watering to about once per week to prevent fungus problems. Don't worry if some seeds don't sprout. Few trees have a 100 percent germination rate. You can leave the plants in their pots over the winter and then plan to find a sunny spot for spring planting. They are deciduous, so they will drop their leaves in the pot.
Red buckeye is one of our most attractive native plants. Your seedlings will be a great addition to your garden and your potted trees make great gifts for your gardening friends.
Contact Pat Lea at lea.pat@gmail.com.