K372: Aesculus pavia atrosanguinea

Also known as Scarlet Buckeye and the Firecracker Plant, the striking, deep red flowers on this group of trees are in full bloom.

Native to southern North America, these trees are still beneficial to UK wildlife, particularly to pollinators and other insects, providing nectar which attract bees. While the seeds are toxic to most wildlife, except squirrels and birds. The leaves are fine-toothed, glossy dark green above and whitish beneath and usually drop by the end of summer.

Young shoots are poisonous if ingested, and traditionally, indigenous people crushed the seeds and shoots and put them in water to stupefy fish for easier capture. Soap may be obtained from the roots and a black dye from the wood. The species name, pavia, is in honour of Peter Paaw, a 16th century Dutch botanist.

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6 Figure Grid SO507510