Horse Chestnut — Trees
Aesculus hippocastanum
Full sun, moderate watering — hardy anywhere in the UK.
- Sow
- Oct
- Plant out
- Nov
- In flower
- May, Jun
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Medium
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Hardiness
- H7
- Season
- spring
- Pets
- Toxic to pets
- Bee friendly
- Bee friendly
Growing notes
Grows to higher than 12 metres. Space about 800+cm apart. In flower May-Jun.
Toxic to pets
Conkers and the leaves of horse chestnut are harmful to people if eaten, causing sickness and stomach pain, and a conker is the part a child is most likely to try. Dogs that eat conkers get sickness, stomach pain and wobbliness, and a whole conker can block the gut. If a person eats any, get medical advice; if a dog does, ring your vet.
→ NHS 111 for a person (999 in an emergency); your vet or the Animal PoisonLine for an animal