Aesculus pavia L.

Red Buckeye

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Red Buckeye is a native deciduous shrub in the Soapberry family (Sapindaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Red Buckeye occurs in deciduous woods, mixed pine/hardwood forests, along streams, on rocky slopes, and in ravines. It is a large shrub or small tree, growing to 25 feet in height. The leaves are opposite and palmately compound with 5-7 leaflets. The leaflets are elliptical in outline with serrate margins. Flowers are produced in panicles at the ends of branches. The panicles are 6-12 inches long. Each flower has a tubular calyx with five teeth and four petals. Both the calyx and petals are red, orange-red, or rarely yellow in color. The fruit is a leathery capsule containing 1-3 large seed. Red Buckeye is our most common species of Buckeye. It is a favorite food plant for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds migrating north. Red Buckeye has typical "hummingbird flowers". The flowers are long and tubular in shape, and produce large amounts of energy rich nectar. The stamens and stigma are excerted beyond the petals so that they come into contact with the birds feathers when it feeds. Pollen doesn't stick very well to the smooth surface of the bill, but easily attaches to the feathers. Hummingbirds are attracted by the color red, and most plants that depend on hummingbirds to pollinate them are red in color. Birds in general have a poor sense of smell, but well developed vision. The seeds and foliage are poisonous. Native American placed crushed seed and branches into small streams and ponds to stupefy fish. The fish would come to the surface where they were easy to catch. Settlers used the roots of Red Buckeye to make a soap for washing clothes. In many areas of the South it is believed to be good luck to carry Red Buckeye seed in your pocket as protection against arthritis. This belief may in fact have some truth to it. It is natural for people to "play" with objects in their pockets, and doctors often give people with arthritis a small rubber ball to exercise t

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Native FAC (NWPL)

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