Aesculus hippocastanum - Horse chestnut

Horse chestnut is a handsome flowering tree that can be grown in southern Finland in favorable places. When young, it is sensitive to autumn frosts and winter damage, and therefore horse chestnut seedlings are usually brought to Finland from elsewhere. The older the tree, the better its winter resistance.

The essence of the horse chestnut can be described as large. In regions with a milder climate, it grows into a handsome tree up to 30 meters tall. We have it half as short, but still makes a wide crown. The branches are sturdy, and in the winter they are tripped up by eye-catchingly large, sticky winter buds. In the spring, big leaves and showy white flowers emerge from the buds. In autumn, the horse chestnut is decorated with large, spiky pods, the brown, large seeds inside of which are inedible. Squirrels like them.

The roots of this plant have been treated with mycorrhiza!