Sweet Buckeye
Aesculus flava
Last reviewed: September 2026
Aesculus flava, or yellow buckeye, is a large deciduous tree that produces upright clusters of yellow flowers in May and June and does well in moist woodland soils across the eastern and southeastern United States.
Sweet Buckeye is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-05-21). 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.
Sweet Buckeye is listed as toxic to grazing livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats) at a severe level by the USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab). This is a livestock indicator and is separate from pet toxicity.
Light
part sun
Water
medium
Size
300"–600" H × 240"–480" W
Bloom
May, Jun
Native to
AL, GA, IL, IN and 10 more states
Pollinators
bees, butterflies
Before you buy
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Sweet buckeye is a medium to large native tree that produces showy clusters of yellow flowers in late spring. It develops attractive fall color and distinctive large nuts, making it a beautiful shade tree for larger properties.
Growing Sweet Buckeye
Grow Sweet Buckeye in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 300 to 600 inches tall and spread 240 to 480 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Sweet Buckeye takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: moderate. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Extremely large mature size (40-75 feet tall and wide)
- Drops messy nuts and leaf litter
- Scale inappropriate for most residential lots
Wildlife value
Host plant for luna moth, banded hairstreak butterfly.
The fragrant flower clusters attract bees and butterflies in May and June. The nuts provide food for squirrels and other wildlife.
Common questions
- When does yellow buckeye bloom?
- Aesculus flava typically flowers in May and June, producing upright clusters of yellow blooms at the branch tips.
- How much light does Aesculus flava need?
- This tree grows best in part sun but can also handle full sun or the dappled light of a partly shaded woodland edge, especially when young.
- How much water does yellow buckeye need?
- Yellow buckeye prefers evenly moist, well drained soil and does not tolerate prolonged drought well, so consistent medium to high moisture is ideal.
- What pollinators visit yellow buckeye flowers?
- The yellow flower clusters attract bees and butterflies, which visit the blooms for nectar in late spring.
- Does yellow buckeye keep its leaves year round?
- No, Aesculus flava is deciduous and drops its compound leaves in fall after they turn shades of orange and yellow.
- Is Sweet Buckeye toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Sweet 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 Sweet Buckeye toxic to cats?
- Yes. Sweet 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.
- Is Sweet Buckeye toxic to livestock?
- Sweet Buckeye is listed as toxic to grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats (severe severity) by the USDA PLANTS Database. This is separate from pet (dog and cat) toxicity.
- Is Sweet Buckeye HOA-friendly?
- Sweet Buckeye takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. 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
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants like Sweet Buckeye and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.
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