During September, buckeyes, which are large, shiny brown seeds, can be found underneath Aesculus trees. According to legend, carrying a pocketful of buckeyes brings good luck. Early Native Americans called these seeds buckeyes for their resemblance to the eyes of male deer, known as bucks. Avid bow hunters are also searching for dark brown buck eyes during this hunting season but not to put into their pockets for good luck.
Figure 1 Panicles of tubular flowers on Ohio, red, and horsechestnut buckeye trees (left to right) in early May on the University of Missouri campus.
There are several species of buckeye that can be grown in full sun to part shade in Missouri. Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra) is a large tree, reaching 20 to 40 feet tall at maturity. Greenish to yellow-colored flowers with long white filaments are borne along a 4 to 7-inch-long spike in late April to early May (Figure 1). The dark green leaves are palmately compound, typically in groups of five leaflets. One to two glossy seeds are enclosed in a light brown leathery husk, which is covered in warty swellings with short prickles (Figure 2). In the fall, leaves turn yellow and tend to drop early.
Figure 2 The dark brown seeds of Ohio buckeye are enclosed in a warty husk covered with short prickles.
Yellow buckeye (Aesculus flava) trees are similar to Ohio buckeye trees, except for their taller height at maturity (50 to 70 feet), yellow flowers, and larger fruits that have a smooth green husk. Yellow buckeye trees also lack the fetid odor of Ohio buckeye trees.
Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) is a small tree or shrub, reaching 10 to 20 feet tall at maturity. Leaflets are arranged in groups of five. Showy red flowers are arranged along a spike up to 10 inches long and attract hummingbirds. One to three shiny buckeye seeds are enclosed within a smooth, light brown husk (Figure 3). The foliage lacks good autumn color and falls early in the season.
Figure 3 The small fruit enclosing the seeds on a red buckeye tree.
Bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) is a showy, summer-flowering shrub that thrives in shaded locations. At maturity, this shrub grows to 6 to 12 feet tall. Spikes of white flowers with red filaments are often up to 12 inches long. When fruit are produced, they have a smooth yellow-green husk and are generally smaller than other buckeye species with a single orangish-brown colored seed. However, bottlebrush buckeye fruit are not always produced in central and northern Missouri. In the fall, the foliage turns yellow in color.
European horsechestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) trees, which grow to 50 to 75 feet tall, are often confused with buckeye trees. However, European horsechestnut trees usually have seven leaflets arranged palmately. White-petaled flowers with a red blotch at the base are borne on panicles up to 12 inches long. The light brown fruit are covered with long spines, which distinguish them from the Ohio buckeye fruit, which are covered with short prickles. Each European horsechestnut fruit contains one or two seeds, which mature in September (Figure 4).
Figure 4 A single fruit with its long spines on a leaf of a Horsechestnut tree.
Most buckeye trees are susceptible to Guignardia leaf blotch disease. Trees are infected with this fungal pathogen during rainy weather in the spring and summer. Disease symptoms first appear as individual brown lesions with a thin yellow border on individual leaflets (Figure 5). Lesions can enlarge and eventually encompass the entire leaf. To minimize reinfection from overwintering fungal spores on the foliage, rake leaves in the fall and remove them from the site. Other fungal diseases that can become problematic include powdery mildew and anthracnose.
Figure 5 Brown lesions of Guignardia leaf blotch disease on red buckeye leaflets.
Leaf scorch occurs at leaflet margins, especially on young trees with a limited root system or those with low vigor (Figure 6). Scorch is a physiological disorder caused by drought during hot, dry weather. Deep watering during drought using a slow trickle from a garden hose will help prevent leaf scorch.
Figure 6 Yellow buckeye leaflets with symptoms of scorch, which is caused by drought during hot, dry weather conditions.
Insect pests vary by site, but buckeye lace bugs, Japanese beetles, bagworms, and borer species can feed on buckeye trees. Infestations or feeding rarely become severe and usually do not warrant the application of insecticides.
Buckeye seeds are poisonous when consumed by humans and cattle. Deer may nibble on buckeye seeds, but they are not a preferred food source. However, if you want a pocketful of buckeyes for good luck, you will likely have to scavenge these seeds before the squirrels devour them.
FAQs
During September, buckeyes, which are large, shiny brown seeds, can be found underneath Aesculus trees. According to legend, carrying a pocketful of buckeyes brings good luck. Early Native Americans called these seeds buckeyes for their resemblance to the eyes of male deer, known as bucks.
Why are Buckeyes called Buckeyes? ›
Ohio is known as the Buckeye State because buckeye trees were prevalent in the area when the territory was settled in the late 18th century. The buckeye gets its name from its distinctive nutlike seed that, when dried, appears a rich, dark brown color with a single lighter brown spot that resembles the eye of a deer.
What is the Buckeye tree named after? ›
The buckeye tree (aesculus glabra) is native to North America. In late summer and early fall, the trees bear fruit that contain a large nut. The nut gives the tree its name because it is dark brown with a light spot, resembling the shape and color of a deer's eye. The buckeye was named the state tree of Ohio in 1953.
What is the difference between yellow Buckeye and red Buckeye? ›
Yellow Buckeye, Aesculus flava, attains about the same height and spread as common horsechestnut but it has yellow flowers and the reproductive structures are contained within the flower. Red Buckeye, Aesculus pavia, is a small tree usually under 25'. The flowers can very in color with the best being bright red.
What is the spiritual meaning of the buckeye nut? ›
If you carry a buckeye in your pocket, it'll bring you good luck. Just like a rabbit's foot or a horseshoe or a four-leaf clover, the buckeye attracts good fortune. When you first put one in your pocket, in the fall, right after the nut-like seed has ripened, the buckeye is smooth and round.
Do squirrels eat buckeyes? ›
While gray squirrels and other animals do eat buckeyes, it is never a preferred food. In fact, both the seeds and tender young leaves of the plant are said to be poisonous to humans and livestock alike. Humans have long made use of the red buckeye.
Can you eat buckeyes from a buckeye tree? ›
Poisonous Plant: All parts of the plant (leaves, bark, fruit) are highly toxic if ingested – because of the glycoside aesculin, the saponin aescin, and possibly alkaloids. Symptoms are muscle weakness and paralysis, dilated pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, paralysis, and stupor.
What do British people call buckeyes? ›
In Britain, they are sometimes called conker trees because of their link with the game of conkers, played with the seeds, also called conkers.
Can deer eat buckeyes? ›
Do deer eat buckeyes? No, they don't. Buckeyes are poisonous to ruminants like cattle, so deer are not far behind. Buckeyes are also toxic to humans and many other animals, so you need to consider the drawbacks before choosing to cultivate them.
What is Ohio's motto? ›
During the early 1950s, the Ohio Legislature sponsored a contest to select a state motto. “With God All Things Are Possible” became Ohio's state motto on October 1, 1959. James Mastronardo, a 12-year-old boy, recommended this quotation from the Bible.
The Buckeye's Place in History
As well as the belief in the good fortune of its storied seed, the buckeye has been held to cure rheumatism and other, more minor ailments. Pioneering farm families also made soap from the kernels of buckeye seeds, and many a child's cradle was carved from the wood of this tree.
What are some fun facts about buckeyes? ›
The seeds contain tannic acid and are poisonous to cattle and humans. The plant is the state tree of Ohio, and the term buckeyes is used to refer to Ohioans in general as well as to the sports teams and players of the Ohio State University.
What is a buckeye slang? ›
someone from the U.S. state of Ohio: It's so nice to meet another Buckeye! The restaurant was popular among young Buckeyes.
What is the biggest buckeye ever found? ›
The World's Largest Buckeye was officially weighed today. The piece of buckeye candy was created by Marsha's Homemade Buckeyes of Perrysburg, Ohio and weighed 339 pounds, surpassing the previous record of 271 pounds.
Where is the largest buckeye tree? ›
Winning back the Ohio buckeye bragging rights won't be easy, Riley said, and the Illinois tree's owners aren't leaving anything to chance. The 150-year-old buckeye is on the grounds of McDonald's corporate headquarters, more than 180 miles west of the Ohio border, and situated on the front lawn of a Hyatt Lodge hotel.
What does the buckeye symbolize? ›
According to folklore, the Buckeye resembles the eye of a deer and carrying one brings good luck. “Buckeyes” has been the official Ohio State nickname since 1950, but it had been in common use for many years before.
What is the superstition of a buckeye nut? ›
Superstitious thinkers believe carrying a buckeye nut in your pocket will ward off bad luck. But, for the most part, the trees and their nuts are relatively impractical. The bark smells bad. The wood does not burn well and the nut is poisonous.
What is the myth about buckeye nuts? ›
Some even believed that carrying a buckeye nut could bring good luck similar to a rabbit's foot or a four-leaf clover. The buckeye continued to resonate with Ohioans and became the state tree in 1953.
Are buckeyes useful for anything? ›
The Buckeye's Place in History
As well as the belief in the good fortune of its storied seed, the buckeye has been held to cure rheumatism and other, more minor ailments. Pioneering farm families also made soap from the kernels of buckeye seeds, and many a child's cradle was carved from the wood of this tree.
