painted buckeye

Plant Type

Small Tree/Large Shrub (10-25 ft)

Life Cycle

Perennial

Typical Size

10-20 ft. tall
6-15 ft. wide

Tolerant of

Deer, Occasional Flooding

Inolerant of

Poorly Drained Soil

Propagation

By seed

Plant Propagation Notes

Seed should be collected in late summer to early fall when the capsule begin to split. Seeds should be cold moist stratified or planted outside in fall for spring germination.

Plants/Diseases

Plants may be susceptible to powdery mildew, rust, and anthracnose, bagworms, Japanese beetles and borers. Leaf scorch may happen in severe drought or high wind exposure.

Wildlife Benefits

Nectar/pollen source for pollinating insects, Nectar source for hummingbirds

Leaves

Opposite, palmately compound leaves with five leaflets.

Flowers

The 1 inch tube-shaped flowers are found on panicles 5-8 inches long and may be yellow to orange or even red.

Fruit

Capsules with 1-3 large brown seeds.

Bark

New shoots are a brown to copper color and then mature to silver/grey.

Toxicity

All parts of this plant are toxic and should not be consumed by humans or pets.

USDA Hardiness Zones

6, 7, 8

Light Exposure

Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade

Soil Moisture

Moist

Soil Drainage

Poorly Drained

Native in South Carolina?

Yes

Plant Native Habitat

Nutrient-rich forests, on bottomlands, lower slopes, and in ravines, floodplains of brown water rivers. Only found at low elevations in the mountains.

Global Conservation Status (NatureServe)

Secure (G5)

Federal Conservation Status (USFWS)

Not Listed

Distribution Notes

Rare in the mountains and coastal plain. Common in the piedmont.