Aesculus hippocastanum Karolina Reinhold

The Aesculus hippocastanum 'Karolina Reinhold' is a lovely Horse Chestnut tree with variegated yellow foliage that is well-suited for small gardens. It is a small tree that shines brightly until autumn. Its spring flowering in creamy white spikes resembles the familiar large Horse Chestnut tree, as do its thorny fruits. This is a beautiful and highly decorative variety of Horse Chestnut, a delight for collectors!

Aesculus hippocastanum 'Karolina Reinhold' is a variegated variety that is rarely available for sale. It is a plant from the Sapindaceae family, formerly known as the Hippocastanaceae family. Contrary to what its common name of Horse Chestnut suggests, the species is native to Macedonia, a region that includes northern Greece, Albania, and southern Bulgaria. It is a forest species. In nature, the common Horse Chestnut can reach a height of 25m with a spread of 15 to 20m.

With slow growth, the 'Karolina Reinhold' Horse Chestnut will reach approximately 5m in height with a spread of 2.50m. Its trunk and branches are covered with a brown to reddish bark, initially smooth, becoming grey and fissured with age. The upright branches, growing at a 45-degree angle, form a dense and compact crown, taking on a conical shape. The deciduous foliage appears in spring and falls in autumn. Large reddish buds covered with a shiny resin can be seen on the branches in winter. The foliage of this variety consists of large leaves measuring 30cm in length, divided into five finely toothed leaflets carried by a long petiole. They are randomly speckled and maculated with yellow on a light green background. In autumn, they turn yellow before falling. Flowering takes place in May-June on branches that are already leafy. It takes the form of upright pyramidal clusters called thyrses, measuring 15cm in length and composed of numerous tiny, creamy white flowers with pink speckles. After pollination by insects, the characteristic fruits form rounded and bristly. Each fruit contains one to three large, shiny, dark brown seeds.

The 'Karolina Reinhold' Horse Chestnut is best placed in a prominent position, as a solitary specimen or in an exotic-inspired bed amidst a cluster of male ferns. Being hardy, it tolerates any deep soil that remains slightly moist, even chalky. It can also be adopted in a large container on the terrace.