This shrub shows off from summer through fall.
Twelve-inch bloom spikes stand atop the foliage in June and July.
A big bottlebrush buckeye can be quite the sight.
Credit: summerhillnursery.com
But the show doesn’t end in summer.
While beautiful, this plant is toxic to animals and people.
Bottlebrush buckeye needs moist, well-drained soil, partial to full shade, and pests rarely impact it.
It thrives in USDA Zones 5 to 9.
Light
Bottlebrush buckeye grows well in partial shade.
Bottlebrush buckeye has an extensive root system, so ensure a deep planting location for the plant to expand.
Water
Keep bottlebrush buckeye consistently moist when establishing its roots and throughout its growing season.
Stop watering in the winter to help prepare the roots for dormancy.
Fertilizer
Before planting, add organic fertilizer to the soil to create a nutrient-rich ground.
Continue adding a monthly fertilizer to help young plants mature from spring to fall.
Start with a 20-20-20 fertilizer and switch to a 10-30-20 to prepare the plant for colder temperatures.
Mature plants do not need as much fertilization, typically two or three times a year.
Types of Bottlebrush Buckeye
There are several bottlebrush shrub and tree varieties.
Light pruning in the fall can help remove diseased, damaged, or overgrown branches.
Prune to enhance the health or size of the plant and promote its growth.
Remove unnecessary branches to help promote better air circulation.
Deadheading spent blooms can also help provide better air circulation while exposing the inner branches to the sunlight.
Bottlebrush buckeyes need cold exposure in the winter to produce a healthy spring plant.
Remove fallen leaves or branches around the plant to prevent pest infestations and diseases from establishing.
Keep plants weed-free to avoid beetle infestations, and hand-pick remaining pests if the problem persists.
Maintain plenty of sun exposure and well-draining soil to prevent these diseases from developing.
Yellowing leaves may begin at the plant’s base or top.
Provide plants with a monthly fertilizer to maintain soil quality.
Deadheading can keep the plant healthy until the following season showing if flowers are spent and wilting after blooming.
An unexpected drop in flowers can result from insufficient water, nutrient deficiencies, or water-logged roots.
Dispose of damaged or diseased branches away from healthy plants.
The bottlebrush buckeye has a medium lifespan of 20 to 30 years.
North Carolina Cooperative Extension.Aesculus parviflora.
