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Horse Chestnut

A native of the Balkans, for centuries it has grown in Britain, most famous for it's conkers that have provided entertainment for generations of children.

Average height Up to 35 metres

Broadleaf, Deciduous

Latin name; Aesculus hippocastanum

Distribution; Introduced to Britain in the 17th century, often found in parkland and on avenues.

Credit: NJ Pringle

The leaf mining moth can badly damage Horse Chestnut trees as their larvae eat their leaves. The pest was only discovered within the UK in 2002 in South London and has quickly spread throughout England and is now showing up in Wales.

In both world wars, starch from the tree was used to create Acetone which was required to make cordite for ammunitions.

Chemical extracts from Horse Chesnuts are used in modern day medicine for a variety of ailments in particular varicose veins and poor circulation. Do not eat raw as they are mildly poisonous before processing.

In spring the trees are full of white candle shaped flowers.

The leaves are very distinctive, large with 5 to 7 leaflets with jagged edges. After flowering, spikey fruits develop, which fall to the ground in September, often opening on impact with the ground, inside are the conkers.

The soft wood can be used for paper pulp.