I know that this a buckeye shrub, but would like to know the botanical or common name. It was growing wild near the shore of Lake Keowee when we built our house 19 years ago.
Hi George,
this is Aesculus sylvatica, the painted buckeye. Its color is variable, sometimes yellowish sometimes to reddish. Some of us think it is a hybrid swarm involving Aesculus flava X Aesculus pavia because it grows halfway between their usual ranges in our upper piedmont.
Sincerely,
Dr. Steven Hill, Botanist, SCNPS