buckeyes and horsechestnuts

Aesculus is the genus for both Buckeye and Horsechestnut can be hard to differentiate. They are both in flower now which can help to tell them apart.

Everything is in the details, including the genetics of plant crosses and plant disease susceptibility. Here is a tale of two Aesculus and their different genetics and susceptibility to Guignardia leaf blotch disease.

The Ohio Buckeye, Aesculus glabra is native to Ohio and grows in the wild as an under story plant, but can tolerate sun. It prefers deep, rich and moist soil. It produces greenish-yellow flowers