Aesculus neglecta Autumn Fire

Here is Aesculus (x) neglecta Autumn Fire, a new smaller, slow-growing chestnut tree, absolutely perfect for adding colour to small gardens. Flamboyant from the end of September under its red-orange foliage, it also surprises when the young shoots appear in a bronze-copper hue with mahogany accents, a stunning colour. Its spring blooms are also beautiful, with pale yellow candle-like flowers suffused with pink, on very beautiful light green and shiny foliage. Now is the time to discover these adorable American ornamental chestnuts: compact, disease-resistant, remarkably colourful, and very easy to grow in ordinary soil that is not too dry.                                                               

The Aesculus (x) neglecta Autumn Fire is a recent horticultural hybrid, highly regarded at the Saint-Jean de Beauregard Plant Festival. Its parents are the Aesculus sylvatica (very compact, native to Appalachian forests in the U.S.A) and the Aesculus flava, a large tree native to the eastern United States. This small-sized chestnut forms a trunk topped with a rounded crown. At the age of 10, it will measure about 6 m (19 in 8 ft) in height and 3 m (9 in 10 ft) in width. At maturity, its dimensions will rarely exceed 8-9 m (26-29 ft) in height and 4 m (13 ft) in width. Its large branches produce smooth, slightly sticky buds. The remarkably-coloured new growth unfolds into large palmate leaves, 15 cm (5.9 in) wide, divided into 5 elliptical and oblong leaflets. Their colour quickly turns light green, until September. It is also notable for taking on its autumn colours very early in the season, sometimes as early as the second half of September, and keeping them until the leaves fall. The first inflorescences, in the form of small upright panicles measuring 10 to 15 cm (3.9 - 5.9 in), bloom in May or early June depending on the climate. The small tubular flowers open in pale yellow, then darken to salmon pink. Flowering is followed by the formation of oval fruits, 5-7 cm (2 - 2.8 in) in length. The trunk of this small tree is covered with smooth brown bark.

Aesculus neglecta Autumn Fire adapts to any deep soil that remains moist (can even be slightly chalky) and prefers a sunny or partially shaded site. It can stand alone in a small garden, but also be included in a mass planting of large bushes or small trees with flowers or autumn foliage. It forms a beautiful combination with e.g. a blue-flowered Hydrangea like the Hydrangea serrata Blue Bird, a large rhododendron, Parrotia persica, Hydrangea quercifolia, Neillia affinis, or Cotinus Royal Purple.