Horse Chestnut

Aesculus hippocastanum

Naturalised species from Southeast Europe, introduced to Britain during the 17th Century. Mature trees are very large, growing to between 25-35 metres and having a very thick trunk with rough brown bark. The large leaf buds are sticky before they open into a fan of leaflets up to 25cm in length. White and red flowers form in upright clusters during April and May. The seeds are contained in spiny green cases and fall from the tree in Autumn. Inside is a hard shiny brown nut known as a conker.