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Native Plant Society of Texas

Clear Lake Chapter

Plant of the Month: Red Buckeye

Presented by Atalanda Cameron
March 8, 2021

Botanical name: Aesculus pavia
Common names: Red Buckeye, Scarlet Buckeye, Firecracker Plant
Family Hippocastanaceae (Horse-Chestnut)

[MUSIC—EASY AND FUN]

[ATALANDA] Hi, my name is Atalanda Cameron and today I’ll be talking to you about the Aesculus pavia, also known as the Red Buckeye.

Characteristics

This is a spring-flowering shrub with bright red flowers. These plants can grow up to 40 feet but are most commonly found around 15 feet tall. They spread out between 12 to 15 feet wide per plant and have large leaves that can grow up to six inches and are divided into five leaflets. They have smooth bark on the young branches and roughened bark on older branches. They are found on a variety of well-drained, usually acidic, woodland soils in the southeast, but are also tolerant of clay soils. Yellow-flowered hybrids known as flavescens grow beyond the central Edwards Plateau. The bloom time is between April to May.

Habitat and distribution

This is a map from iNaturalist, data collected from users all across the web. It shows the red-flowered Aesculus pavia. The species range extends from the east coast to the westernmost edge of the Edwards Plateau in Central Texas. The height ranges from 40 feet to 10 feet with the smaller ones being the farther west you go from the Mississippi Valley.

Propagation and growth

They’re found in nature most often as a plant of woodland edges where it can get morning sun and afternoon shade. They attract hummingbirds and tolerate clay soils relatively well. They prefer full sun to part shade, have a medium watering schedule. Moderate maintenance is required. They’re best grown in hedges, flowering trees, or in rain gardens, and they lose their leaves by the end of summer.

For more information, visit the Native Plant Society of Texas, Clear Lake Chapter.

Thank you!

[MUSIC—AND THAT’S IT]

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About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason