Painted buckeye
Aesculus sylvatica
Last reviewed: September 2026
Painted buckeye is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-08-15). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435and your veterinarian's emergency line.
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
72"–180" H × 72"–180" W
Bloom
Apr, May
Native to
AL, GA, NC, SC and 2 more states
Pollinators
bees, hummingbirds
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A multi-stemmed understory shrub or small tree with palmate leaves and upright spikes of pale yellow to cream flowers in spring, followed by smooth brown seed capsules. Often forms loose colonial thickets in shaded woods.
Wildlife value
Spring flower spikes are visited by early-season bees and hummingbirds.
Common questions
- How much sun does Painted buckeye need?
- Painted buckeye grows best in part shade conditions.
- When does Painted buckeye bloom?
- Painted buckeye blooms in April and May.
- Where is Painted buckeye native?
- Painted buckeye (Aesculus sylvatica) is native to AL, GA, NC, SC and 2 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- Is Painted buckeye toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Painted buckeye is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Painted buckeye toxic to cats?
- Yes. Painted buckeye is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- What pollinators does Painted buckeye attract?
- Painted buckeye draws bees and hummingbirds.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
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