Red Buckeye Plant Care

Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia) belongs to the Sapindaceae family within the Aesculus genus. Red Buckeye is native to the southern and eastern parts of the United States, found from Illinois to Virginia in the north and from Texas to Florida in the south. Red Buckeye is also known as Scarlet Buckeye.

Red Buckeye displays a large deciduous tree growth habit, reaching up to 50 ft tall with a spread of approximately 30 ft. Red Buckeye produces showy clusters of white, pink, or red flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 8 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Red Buckeye every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Red Buckeye thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Aesculus pavia tolerates temperatures of 60–90°F. Red Buckeye prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Red Buckeye to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Red Buckeye every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Red Buckeye is suited to USDA Zone 13a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Red Buckeye can spread to about 30 ft (9.1 m) and reach about 50 ft (15 m) tall. Space plants about 30 ft (9.1 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Red Buckeye while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Red Buckeye is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 13). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Red Buckeye can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to assam horse chestnut plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Red Buckeye is susceptible to leaf miners, scale insects, horse chestnut scale. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Red Buckeye grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. Red Buckeye is native to the southern and eastern parts of the United States, found from Illinois to Virginia in the north and from Texas to Florida in the south. In cooler regions, grow Red Buckeye as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.