Aesculus Laciniata

The Aesculus hippocastanum 'Laciniata' is a medium-sized Horse Chestnut tree with a rather narrow habit, featuring finely cut foliage, known as laciniate. All these characteristics make it a particularly elegant small tree. In this cultivar, the flowering is of little interest and there is no fruiting. Planted as a specimen tree, it will amaze your visitors. Its size and slow growth make it suitable for medium-sized gardens.

The Aesculus hippocastanum 'Lacinita' was discovered in France in 1843, by A. & L. Leroy, in Angers. This tree belongs to the Sapindaceae family, formerly known as the Hippocastanaceae family. The common species, the Horse Chestnut, 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 25 m with a spread of 15 to 20 m.

The 'Laciniata' Horse Chestnut develops a trunk and its branches are covered with a thin, brown to reddish bark, initially smooth, becoming grey and fissured with age. Its habit is rather narrow and upright. A 10-year-old specimen will not exceed 3.50 m in height. Eventually, after many years, the tree reaches a height of about 9 or 10 m and spreads out to 4 to 5 m. The crown is somewhat irregular and open. The deciduous foliage emerges in spring and falls in autumn. In winter, large reddish buds covered with shiny resin can be seen on the branches. The foliage consists of leaves divided into 5 to 8 very narrow leaflets, sometimes thread-like, with toothed edges, and light green in color. The discreet flowering takes place in May-June, on branches that are already leafed out. It takes the form of small upright pyramid-shaped clusters called thyrses, composed of a few small flowers about 1 cm wide, with a colour close to white. This cultivar is sterile and does not produce fruits.

The 'Laciniata' Horse Chestnut stands out when planted as a specimen tree or in a tropical-inspired flower bed, with ferns at its base, for example. It can also be planted in a large container on the terrace, where it can live for a few years before being planted in the ground. Plant collectors will also appreciate other slightly unusual trees: the Juniperus communis 'Horstmann' juniper, the Corylus avellana 'Contorta' hazelnut and its purple version Corylus avellana 'Red Majestic', the Salix erythroflexuosa willow, and the Robinia pseudoacacia 'Twisty Baby' black locust.